Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Tubes Research Articles

The Indentation Behaviour of Carbon Fibre Composite Tubes-Experiments & Modelling

Metallic tubes have been extensively studied for their crashworthiness as they closely resemble automotive crash rails. Recently, the demand to produce lighter weight, yet safer vehicles has led to the need to understand the crash behaviour of novel materials, such as fibre reinforced polymer composites, metallic foams and sandwich structures. This paper discusses the static indentation response of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) tubes. The side impact on a CFRP tube involves various failure mechanisms. This paper highlights these mechanisms and compares the energy absorption of CFRP tubes with similar Aluminium tubes. The response of the CFRP tubes during bending was modelled using ABAQUS finite element software with a composite fabric material model. The material inputs were given based on standard tension and compression test results and the in-plane damage was defined based on cyclic shear tests. The failure modes and energy absorption observed during the tests were well represented by the finite element model.

Modelling the side impact of carbon fibre tubes

Metallic tubes have been extensively studied for their crashworthiness as they closely resemble automotive crash rails. Recently, the demand to improve fuel economy and reduce vehicle emissions has led automobile manufacturers to explore the crash properties of light weight materials such as fibre reinforced polymer composites, metallic foams and sandwich structures in order to use them as crash barriers. This paper discusses the response of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) tubes and their failure mechanisms during side impact. The energy absorption of CFRP tubes is compared to similar Aluminium tubes. The response of the CFRP tubes during impact was modelled using Abaqus finite element software with a composite fabric material model. The material inputs were given based on standard tension and compression test results and the in-plane damage was defined based on cyclic shear tests. The failure modes and energy absorption observed during the tests were well represented by the finite element model.

Axial capacity and crushing of thin-walled metal, fibre–epoxy and composite metal–fibre tubes

Recent investigations of square hollow section (SHS) metal tubes with externally bonded carbon fibres have shown significant increases in the axial capacity and mean crushing load, compared with the metal SHS. The composite metal–fibre tubes employed carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) matrix layouts of two and four layers of carbon fibres. In this paper the same sized two and four layer CFRP SHS were manufactured independent of the metal SHS, and the axial capacity and crushing behaviour were determined experimentally. Four different tube sizes were tested, resulting in tube width to thickness ratios between 32 and 144. A photogrammetry system was employed to accurately determine the buckling and post-buckling behaviour. It is shown that the capacity and mean crush load of the composite metal–CFRP SHS exceed the sum of those for the individual metal SHS and CFRP SHS, by up to 1.8 times. This composite action results from the bond between the metal and the carbon fibres, and the mechanics with respect to buckling, capacity and crushing is discussed. The strength of metal, composite metal–CFRP and CFRP tube walls are determined using the effective width approach, and are shown to compare well with the experimental results.

Static and dynamic axial crushing of spot-welded thin-walled composite steel–CFRP square tubes

Thin-walled metallic tubular components have long been adopted in the transportation industries, where the stable energy absorbing crushing process provides protection to occupants and cargo in the event of a collision. Fibre–epoxy tubes provide superior strength to weight ratios, however brittle failure modes may limit their energy absorbing capacity under large axial deformation. Composite steel–CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced polymer) tubes are a recent advent, and combine the benefits of the stable, ductile plastic collapse mechanism of the steel and the high strength to weight ratio of the fibre/resin composite, to form a composite tube with high energy absorption capability. In this paper the applicability of steel–CFRP tubes to structures typical to the automotive industry is investigated. Thin-walled square tubes with width to thickness ratios up to 120 are cold-formed and spot-welded from high strength, low ductility steel, and subjected to static and dynamic axial compression. Four different steel tube geometries and two different carbon fibre matrix layouts are investigated, and comparisons are made between static and dynamic crushing, steel and composite steel–CFRP tubes, and regular and low ductility steels. It is shown that the crashworthiness properties of the steel–CFRP tubes exceed those of the steel tubes, however some issues particular to low ductility steels and such steels under impact conditions prove detrimental to the crashworthiness characteristics. Theoretical procedures are developed to design the crashworthiness characteristics of the composite tubes, and are shown to compare well with the experimental results.

Composite steel–CFRP SHS tubes under axial impact

Abstract Composite steel–carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) tubes combine the benefits of the stable, ductile plastic collapse mechanism of the steel and the high strength to weight ratio of the fibre/resin composite, to form a composite tube with high energy absorption capability. This paper presents experimental results of square hollow section (SHS) composite steel–CFRP tubes subjected to axial impact. A number of different steel SHS geometries and two different matrix layouts of the CFRP are investigated. The dynamic results are compared with quasi-static results of composite steel–CFRP SHS and dynamic results of steel SHS and CFRP SHS. It is shown that the crashworthiness properties of load uniformity and specific energy absorption of the composite steel–CFRP tubes exceed those of the steel-only and CFRP-only tubes. An additional advantage of the CFRP application technique is that the CFRP may be retro-fitted to existing steel tubes, and the energy absorption capacity is shown to be markedly improved by such application. A theoretical method to calculate the dynamic mean crushing load which includes the effects of strain-rate is shown to compare well with the experimental results.

Structural performance of a FRP bridge deck

The purpose of this paper is to present fatigue and strength experimental qualifications performed for an all-composite bridge deck. This bridge deck, made up of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) was installed on the campus at University of Missouri at Rolla on July 29th, 2000. The materials used for the fabrication of this 30 foot (9.144 m) long by 9 foot (2.743 m) wide deck were 3 inches (76.2 mm) pultruded square hollow glass and carbon FRP tubes of varying lengths. These tubes were bonded using an epoxy adhesive and mechanically fastened together using screws in seven different layers to form the bridge deck with tubes running both longitudinal and transverse to the traffic direction. The cross-section of the deck was in the form of four identical I-beams running along the length of the bridge. Fatigue and failure tests were conducted on a 30 foot (9.144 m) long by 2 foot (609.6 mm) wide prototype deck sample, equivalent to a quarter portion of the bridge deck. The loads for these tests were computed so as to meet American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) H-20 truckload requirements based on strength and maximum deflection. The sample was fatigued to 2 million cycles under service loading and a nominal frequency of 4 Hz. Stiffness changes were monitored by periodically interrupting the run to perform a quasi-static test to service load. Results from these tests indicated no loss in stiffness up to 2 million cycles. Following the fatigue testing, the test sample was tested to failure and no loss in strength was observed. The testing program, specimen detail, experimental setup and instrumentation, testing procedure, and the results of these tests are discussed in detail. A finite-element model of the laboratory test was also developed. The results from the model showed good correlation to deflections and longitudinal strains measured during the tests. The design of the bridge deck has been discussed in detail.