Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Research Articles

Implementation of multi-walled carbon nanotube incorporated GFRP as an alternative for CFRP in strengthening of concrete cylinders

Carbon fibre is the most widely utilized fibre for strengthening and retrofitting applications in the construction sector. The high cost of carbon fibre necessitates the identification of an alternative system for the retrofitting and repairing of concrete structures. In the current study, the characteristics of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP), Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) incorporated GRFP are assessed with epoxy as a matrix for concrete cylinder confinement. The evaluation of one and two-layer CFRP confinement on concrete cylinders is carried out and outcomes are compared with the three-layer MWCNT incorporated GFRP confinement. A significant increase was observed in the axial compressive load-bearing capability of specimens with 1 wt percentage (wt%) MWCNT incorporated GFRP confined concrete cylinders. The axial load-carrying capability of concrete specimens with one layer of CFRP confinement was equivalent to that of specimens with 1 wt% MWCNT incorporated three-layer GFRP confinement. The axial strain of MWCNT incorporated three-layer GFRP confined specimens was 75 % more than one-layer and 12 % higher than two-layer CFRP confined specimens. According to observations, MWCNT-incorporated FRP confinement improves the energy absorption and ductility index. Ultrasonic pulse velocity test results confirmed the potency of three-layer GFRP confinement as a replacement for one and two layers of CFRP. A cost analysis is also carried out to validate the economic viability of the MWCNT-based GFRP compared to CFRP confinement.

Highly protective and functional strengthening strategies for 3D printed continuous carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites: manufacturing and properties

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have gradually emerged as a crucial material in the aerospace industry. However, inadequate impact resistance and thermal stability limit survival in extreme environments. Inspired by the specific functions of multiple layers of tissue, from bird feathers to the musculoskeletal system. We propose low-cost composite strengthening strategies and efficient novel three-dimensional graphene aerogel manufacturing methods. A novel graphene aerogel/carbon fiber reinforced polymer (GAC) composite prepared by in-situ laser-induced graphene (LIG) layers on the surface of 3D-printed CFRP. GAC composites enhance CFRP's impact protection, thermal insulation, and electromagnetic shielding capabilities. For protection, GAC composites reduce low-velocity impact damage by 26.2%. The graphene layer can increase the thermal buffering capacity of the material four times, and the long-term service temperature can be increased by 40% compared to traditional CFRP. For functionality, the composites enable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of up to 50.2 dB. Furthermore, it can achieve surface heating above 400 °C and rapid de-icing through electrothermal effects. The simple and efficient processing method of GAC composites and tunable functionalities holds promise for the development of highly protective and intelligent aircraft skins.

Riveting damage behavior and mechanical performance investigation of CFRP/CFRP thin-walled single-lap blind riveted joints

Riveting has a wide range of advantages in improving the performance of composite connections, however, it is highly likely to cause damage to the composite structure. Therefore, an experimental study was conducted to assess the damage behaviors of the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)/CFRP blind riveted joint. Mechanical performance of joints was also evaluated experimentally. Furthermore, failure modes were exhaustively discussed. The influences of the rivet shank length on both the riveting damage and the mechanical performance were also investigated. The results demonstrated that: the surface bearing damage occurred on the first ply and was mainly caused by the pressure of forming the riveted head along the rivet shank axial. Serious damage occurred in the upper plies near the riveted head due to the radius expansion of the rivet shank. The damage modes were affected by the angles of the fiber laying direction and the rivet shank. The grooved blind riveting formed a localized protruding area around the periphery of the holes and caused less riveting damage. The failure modes of the tensile specimens were all shear failure, and the failure modes of the pull-off specimens were characterized by laminate fracture around the rivet holes, which subsequently led to rivet pull-off failure. It is worth emphasizing that the pull-off damage load and failure load of grooved blind riveted specimens were higher than those of general blind riveted specimens, while the grooved blind riveting reduced the tensile resistance.

Optimization of thermal shock response spectrum as infrared thermography post-processing methodology using Latin hypercube sampling and analytical thermal N-layer model

In this work, we continue to develop and investigate the Thermal Shock Response Spectrum (TSRS) method as an alternative data processing method for infrared thermography (IRT). We focus on improving the current TSRS algorithm and present an optimization methodology for finding the optimal thermal Q-factor and characteristic frequency pair, which is based on the widely applied random sampling method. We show the qualitative relationship between the determined optimal characteristic frequency and the corresponding maximum difference in diffusion length between reference and defective models, as calculated by selecting a specific one-dimensional thermal N-layer model The investigations were performed on an inhomogeneous plate made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) with artificial square defects at different depths. Furthermore, two different heat sources were used: a xenon flash lamp and a laser. These sources are not only distinct by their underlying physics but also generate inherently different pulse shapes. To quantitatively estimate the contrast between defect and non-defect areas, and to compare these results with commonly used infrared thermography (IRT) data post-processing methods such as Pulse Phase Thermography (PPT) and Thermographic Signal Reconstruction (TSR), the Tanimoto criterion (TC) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were used.

Laser-engraved holograms as entropy source for random number generators

Our study introduces a novel approach to true random number generation (TRNG) using speckle patterns generated by laser-engraved holograms on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite substrates. Unlike previous methods, our approach simplifies the process by generating the necessary image dataset from a single microscope image of the engraved hologram. We achieve a high extraction ratio of 76 %, demonstrating the effectiveness of our TRNG. Moreover, our method successfully passes rigorous statistical tests proposed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), indicating its suitability for cryptographic and secure system applications. This work offers promising implications for enhancing security in various domains, from secure communication networks to IoT devices.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates: flexural strengthening method for prestressed concrete beams with anchorage loss

Abstract Post-tensioning (PT), a method of pre-stressing, involves the use of high-strength steel strands/ tendons to reinforce concrete or other materials. On the contrary, Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) are lightweight, high-strength materials with used to strengthen concrete structures by adhering the polymer to the concrete element. Challenges with post-tensioned elements include reverse curvature of the post-tensioning strands, tendon misplacement, and frequent damage in the anchorage and dead-end zones. These difficulties frequently cause bulging of the surrounding concrete, even at lower stress levels, and can lead to concrete bursting when tension exceeds certain threshold. This study investigates into the potential of CFRP strengthening technique to improve the flexural capacity of post-tensioned concrete beams with anchorage loss. Through an experimental program, the study compares the performance of control beams to those reinforced with different layers of CFRP. The results of this study demonstrated that there was a significant increase in flexural capacity, ranging from 45.31% to 78.62% for single layers and 87.17% to 153% for double layers of CFRP sheet. Additionally, the research examines how different levels of prestressing and CFRP wraps influence crack formation and delamination patterns of carbon fiber, with promising results. It was also noted that optimal usage of CFRP fibers and tendons is found to be critical. The study suggests exploring alternative fiber types and orientations for future study.

The Impact of Reinforcement Ratio on the Punching Shear of CFRP Grid-Reinforced Concrete Two-Way Slabs

Corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete slabs undermines structural durability and shortens the lifespan of concrete structures. Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) is a promising material offering benefits such as high strength, corrosion resistance, and light weight. This study aims to investigate the punching shear performance of concrete slabs reinforced with CFRP grids, focusing on the effects of different reinforcement ratios. A series of experiments were conducted on two-way concrete slabs reinforced solely with CFRP grids to assess their punching shear resistance. Experimental results show that the CFRP grid achieves an ultimate tensile strength of 2181 MPa, with the cracking load of CFRP grid-reinforced slabs reaching approximately 20% of the ultimate load, highlighting a strong correlation between the ultimate load and grid reinforcement ratio. The observed punching failure exhibited clear brittle characteristics, characterized by the formation of radial and circumferential cracks on the tensile surface of the slab. The reinforcement ratio significantly influences the failure mode of the slabs; as the reinforcement ratio increases, the ultimate punching loads also increase. Additionally, a mathematical formula is proposed to predict the punching bearing capacity, achieving calculation errors below 20%. These findings contribute valuable insights into using CFRP grids as primary reinforcement, enhancing the design and application of durable concrete slab structures.

Mechanical and dynamic characteristics for the CFRP, GFRP, and hybrid composites exposed to HCl environment

In the current study, the low-velocity impact (LVI) characteristics of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), and hybrid composites before and after the corrosive environment exposure were investigated. In this regard, CFRP, GFRP, and hybrid composites were subjected to LVI and tensile loadings after being kept in a 10% diluted HCl environment for 1 week and 1 month, and the impacts of the corrosive environment on the composites’ dynamic and mechanical responses were determined by comparing the outcomes of the control and aged specimens. LVI tests for CFRP, GFRP, and hybrid composites were carried out by transferring 25.2 and 11.2 J impact energy to the specimens with two impact velocities of 3 and 2 m/s, respectively, and thus, the effects of impact energy and hybridization were investigated. Moreover, tensile tests were conducted for the control and aged specimens with 2 mm/min crosshead speed, and thus, the effects of fiber material, hybridization, and corrosive environment on the mechanical properties were determined. The study found that CFRP composites had higher stiffness than GFRPs, whereas hybrid composites exhibited dynamic responses between CFRP and GFRP, as expected. On the other hand, it turned out that the composites absorbed most of the impact energy, which was interpreted as being absorbed by the damage of fiber-reinforced composites, which stand out with their brittle characteristics. Furthermore, it was discovered that the damage severity elevated as expected with a longer aging time, which was attributed to the corrosive liquid attacking the fibers, matrix, and fiber/matrix interfaces and reducing strength. It was also observed that, as predicted, the corrosive effects generally resulted in a reduction in tensile responses, including ultimate strain and tensile strength.

Laser-Induced Decomposition and Mechanical Degradation of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Subjected to a High-Energy Laser with Continuous Wave Power up to 120 kW

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), noted for its outstanding properties including high specific strength and superior fatigue resistance, is increasingly employed in aerospace and other demanding applications. This study investigates the interactions between CFRP composites and high-energy lasers (HEL), with continuous wave laser powers reaching up to 120 kW. A novel automated sample exchange system, operated by a robotic arm, minimizes human exposure while enabling a sequence of targeted laser tests. High-speed imaging captures the rapid expansion of a plume consisting of hot gases and dust particles during the experiment. The research significantly advances empirical models by systematically examining the relationship between laser power, perforation times, and ablation rates. It demonstrates scalable predictions for the effects of high-energy laser radiation. A detailed examination of the damaged samples, both visually and via micro-focused computed X-ray tomography, offers insights into heat distribution and ablation dynamics, highlighting the anisotropic thermal properties of CFRP. Compression after impact (CAI) tests further assess the residual strength of the irradiated samples, enhancing the understanding of CFRP’s structural integrity post-irradiation. Collectively, these tests improve the knowledge of the thermal and mechanical behavior of CFRP under extreme irradiation conditions. The findings not only contribute to predictive modeling of CFRP’s response to laser irradiation but enhance the scalability of these models to higher laser powers, providing robust tools for predicting material behavior in high-performance settings.

Damage evaluation in plain-woven CFRP plate with circular hole under cyclic tensile loading using electrical impedance tomography

Understanding and predicting damage progression within thin plain-woven carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) components is an essential issue for scheduling maintenance intervals and structural inspections and typically requires extensive test series. However, uncertainties always remain and result in conservative design and unnecessary downtimes due to the repeated inspections of a healthy structure. Structural health monitoring (SHM) can be used to reduce these uncertainties, as it allows one to evaluate the condition of a mechanical structure during operation. Numerous SHM methods have been developed, which achieve different levels of damage identification but are often investigated at small coupons with nonrealistic structural damages and loading conditions on both structure and sensor. The present research investigates electrical impedance tomography (EIT) featuring an elastoresistive thin-film sensor to evaluate damage that propagates from a circular hole in a large plate under cyclic tensile–tensile multiblock loading. Applied fatigue loads were increased multiple times up to a total number of two million cycles. During the loading, damage initiated at the hole and continuously propagated into the plate. Repeated EIT evaluations of the applied sensor and validating evaluations by means of digital image correlation clearly revealed the robustness of the hardware and the potential of the SHM method for damage evaluation of plain-woven CFRP components.

Analysis of damage characteristics of reinforced concrete slabs under explosive impact and research on CFRP reinforcement

To study the damage characteristics and damage model of reinforced concrete slabs under explosive impact, the failure modes of reinforced concrete slabs under near-field and contact explosion were first studied through on-site experiments. A coupled model was established based on the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method using AUTODYN finite element software. The reliability of the model was verified by comparing the numerical simulation results with experimental results. Based on this, a fully coupled model of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) reinforcement for reinforced concrete slabs under contact explosion was established, and the influence of different CFRP thicknesses and reinforcement methods on the blast resistance performance of reinforced concrete slabs was discussed. The research results indicate that under the action of near-field explosions, the front face of reinforced concrete slabs mainly experiences slight peeling damage, and the central area of the back face forms seismic collapse and peeling damage, with damage cracks diverging from the center to the surrounding areas; Under the action of contact explosion, the front face of the reinforced concrete slab produces blast pits, the back face forms a seismic collapse zone, and peeling damage occurs; The CFRP reinforcement layer can improve the blast resistance performance of reinforced concrete slabs; There is an optimal thickness when using CFRP to enhance the blast resistance of reinforced concrete slabs.

High entropy alloy reinforcement for superior electromagnetic interference shielding performance in carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites

AbstractThis study explores the enhancement of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) in carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites through the integration of equatomic CoCuFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA) particles. Employing mechanical alloying (MA), CoCuFeNi HEA powders were synthesized, revealing a face‐centered cubic structure with crystallite and particle sizes of 14.7 nm and 11.62 μm, respectively. The integration of these HEA particles at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight into epoxy resin, followed by the fabrication of composites using the hand lay‐up technique. Detailed structural analysis of HEA particles confirmed the successful synthesis of equatomic HEAs via MA. Structural analysis of the HEA integrated composites revealed vacancy regions at 5% concentration, a uniform distribution at 10%, and particle agglomeration causing inhomogeneity and vacancies at 15%. The composites demonstrated significant improvements in EMI SE, with the 10% HEA sample showing superior performance compared to the other samples. Specifically, the 10% HEA composite achieved a peak SE of 73.09 dB at 4.72 GHz, attributed to the optimized distribution of HEA particles that enhanced electrical conductivity and reflective properties.Highlights CoCuFeNi HEA particles were successfully synthesized via MA. HEA particles were added to epoxy at 5, 10, and 15 wt% for composite fabrication. Voids were observed in HEA5, uniformity in HEA10, and clustering in HEA15. EMI shielding was assessed using VNA, SE, dielectric permittivity, and magnetic permeability. The HEA10 composite achieved peak EMI shielding, 73.09 dB at 4.72 GHz.

Finite Element Modeling and Artificial Neural Network Analyses on the Flexural Capacity of Concrete T-Beams Reinforced with Prestressed Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Strands and Non-Prestressed Steel Rebars

The use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strands as prestressed reinforcement in prestressed concrete (PC) structures offers an effective solution to the corrosion issues associated with prestressed steel strands. In this study, the flexural behavior of PC beams reinforced with prestressed CFRP strands and non-prestressed steel rebars was investigated using finite element modeling (FEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) methods. First, three-dimensional nonlinear FE models were developed. The FE results indicated that the predicted failure mode, load-deflection curve, and ultimate load agreed well with the previous test results. Variations in prestress level, concrete strength, and steel reinforcement ratio shifted the failure mode from concrete crushing to CFRP strand fracture. While the ultimate load generally increased with a higher prestressed level, an excessively high prestress level reduced the ultimate load due to premature fracture of CFRP strands. An increase in concrete strength and steel reinforcement ratio also contributed to a rise in the ultimate load. Subsequently, the verified FE models were utilized to create a database for training the back propagation ANN (BP-ANN) model. The ultimate moments of the experimental specimens were predicted using the trained model. The results showed the correlation coefficients for both the training and test datasets were approximately 0.99, and the maximum error between the predicted and test ultimate moments was around 8%, demonstrating that the BP-ANN method is an effective tool for accurately predicting the ultimate capacity of this type of PC beam.

Delamination assessment and prediction in ultrasonic-assisted drilling of laminated hybrid composites

This study presents a novel application of the Random Forest (RF) algorithm to predict delamination in ultrasonic-assisted drilling (UAD) of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs). It performs a multi-dimensional analysis of factors including graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) addition, ultrasonic vibration, cutting tool type, and feed rate on delamination damage. The RF algorithm was chosen for its ability to handle both regression and categorical tasks. The model demonstrated strong predictive performance, achieving an R² value of 0.9445 on test data, with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.32% and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.29% relative to the average values. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Sobol sensitivity, and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) analysis were used to assess the impact of input parameters. Sobol identified the cutting tool type and feed rate as the most influential factors, contributing 37.7% and 34.3% to delamination variance, aligning with ANOVA findings. SHAP further confirmed the tooling type and feed rate as key factors, with contributions of 48.75% and 32.61%. The analyses revealed that GNPs increased delamination due to higher thrust forces, while ultrasonic vibration and high-cobalt tools reduced delamination. Optimal conditions were a feed rate of 0.08 mm/rev with an 8% cobalt tool and ultrasonic vibration, excluding GNPs.

Flexural and vibration behaviours of novel covered CFRP composite joints with an MWCNT-modified adhesive

Abstract Co-curing bonding is more efficient than co-bonding and secondary bonding for structural component assembly. This work used novel covered laminas with co-cured joining techniques (CL-CCT) to create carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite adhesive-bonded joints. Additionally, the researchers evaluated how multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) affect the bending and dynamic properties of CFRP composite joints. The researchers added various weights of MWCNTs to the covered laminas along with co-cured CFRP adhesive-bonded joints. The study revealed that epoxy and 0.25 wt% MWCNT adhesive produced the strongest and most flexible joints. These joints were 118 and 15% stronger than joints made from pure epoxy CL-CC CFRP, respectively. Compared to pure epoxy CC-CFRP composite joints, the strength of CL-CC CFRP composite joints with 0.25 wt% MWCNTs increased by 374 and 109%, respectively. Interestingly, MWCNTs with a wt% of 1.25 had the greatest natural frequency in all three vibration modes, which are 19, 19, and 13% higher than that of the pure epoxy CL-CC CFRP composite joint. There are 28, 30, and 24% more natural frequencies in 1.25 wt% MWCNT-based CL-CC CFRP composite joints than those in pure epoxy-based joints in all three modes. Analysis of variance was employed for statistical investigation. Optimization and prediction were done using an artificial neural network and the Levenberg–Marquardt technique.

DESIGN AND SELECTION OF PADDLE MATERIALS FOR HIGH-LEVEL ROWING COMPETITION APPLICATIONS USING MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS

The study evaluated a variety of material alternatives including wood, bamboo, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), and ceramics for use in high-performance paddleboard. The selection process considers factors such as strength, density, cost, and durability with a focus on the most relevant material criteria for the product. The weighted addition method is used to evaluate and rank several alternative materials that have been selected based on these criteria. Wood and bamboo are chosen for their sustainability, CFRP for their superior strength-to-weight ratio, and ceramics for their resistance to extreme conditions. The study found that CFRP had the highest score of around 85.40 due to its superior strength and lightweight. The framework proposed in this study could provide tools for rowing teams to optimize paddle materials so that they offer the potential for increased speed and performance in the competition.

Bond of FRP bars in fine‐grained alkali‐activated concrete

AbstractAlkali‐activated cement (AAC) is an alternative binder with a promising potential to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and mitigate its environmental issues. The use of fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcements with AAC concrete enables the development of corrosion‐resistant, environmentally friendly reinforced concrete structures. Bond behavior is critical in reinforced concrete structures and must be thoroughly studied for such new alternative materials. This study employs pullout tests to investigate the bond behavior between FRP bars and fine‐grained AAC concrete. Three fine‐grained AAC concretes with low to high strength, glass and carbon FRP bars and wrapped, milled, and smooth surface treatments were examined. The effect of bar casting position was also investigated. The compressive strength showed a significant influence on the bond strength. An average bond strength of approximately 18 MPa was observed for both glass and carbon FRP bars when used with 65 MPa concrete. Both the glass and carbon FRP bars with wrapping showed a lower bond strength than their milled FRP bars counterparts. The carbon bars without surface preparation (smooth bars) resulted in a much lower bond strength, around 4 MPa. In terms of casting positions, the bars cast in the middle section of the concrete block showed a higher bond strength than those at the bottom and top.

Flexural behaviour of stone slabs with prefabricated prestressed CFRP-reinforced stone strips

A strengthening technique incorporating prefabricated, prestressed, carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-reinforced stone strips for stone slabs was proposed. To investigate the flexural behaviour of strengthened stone slabs, an experimental campaign consisting of 11 stone-slab specimens was conducted by considering the reinforcement ratio, the prestress level, the length of stone strip and the strengthening method as the main parameters. By installing strain gauges on the CFRP bars and stone slabs, the stress-transfer efficiency between different components of the strengthened stone slab during prestressing and strengthening processes were monitored. The results showed that the temporary device could effectively maintain the prestress imposed in the CFRP bars and transfer it to the stone slabs to be strengthened. Further four-point bending tests indicated that the prefabricated stone strips shifted the failure mode of bare stone slabs from brittle fracture to ductile, with obvious deflection and multiple flexural cracks. The load plotted against deflection responses of the strengthened slabs showed three stages, and a significant increase in the load-carrying and deformation capacities was observed when compared to those of the bare stone slabs. Finally, simplified theoretical models for predicting the flexural strength and initial stiffness of the strengthened stone slabs were proposed and assessed.

A low‐cost trans‐scale model for the collaborative analysis of the manufacturing and in‐service process of unidirectional CFRP composites

AbstractDuring the manufacturing of thermoset‐based carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures, a curing process involving thermal, chemical, and mechanical interactions occurs. This process gives rise to micro‐scale residual stresses due to differences in fiber and resin properties, leading to decreased mechanical properties compared to nominal values. A trans‐scale analysis method utilizing the reduced order model (ROM) is applied in this study to establish a connection between the manufacturing and in‐service processes for unidirectional CFRP (UD‐CFRP). By employing this method, the evolution of residual stresses at the micro‐scale during UD‐CFRP manufacturing is predicted, and the impact of these residual stresses on structural performance during service is assessed. Specifically, the manufacturing‐induced residual stresses reduce the material strength by a minimum of 19.31%, while also exploring the correlation between macro‐scale and micro‐scale failures. Notably, the computational cost of this method is significantly lower, with a reduction factor of 103 compared to the finite element method. Empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of this method in accurately predicting outcomes throughout both the manufacturing and in‐service processes.Highlights Trans‐scale analysis method links composites manufacturing simulation to in‐service performance. Highly efficient trans‐scale method excels in cost, accuracy, consistency, and convergence. Residual stresses from the curing process significantly impact matrix safety.

Hypervelocity impact investigations of composite truss tubes for in orbit assembly risk assessment

As the number of orbital structures increases, so does the threat posed by micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impacts. These impacts range from the ballistic range (less than 1.5 km/s) to exceeding 20 km/s and can significantly weaken space structures such as the International Space Station (ISS), leading to further risk as the debris shed could damage the in-orbit assembly field. Space structures, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the in-space assembled telescope (ISAT), often employ fiber-matrix composites in various shapes and sizes. While the effects of hypervelocity impacts (HVI) on flat plate composites have been extensively studied, there is a notable lack of research on HVI of composite tubes. Understanding how MMOD impacts affect the integrity of individual truss members, as well as the structure as a whole is essential for assessing the condition of existing space structures and improving future designs. To replicate MMOD impacts, HVI investigations from 1 to over 3 km/s were conducted on a specialized two-stage light-gas gun, showing the transition from single inlet wall damage to cascading internal fragmentation inside the tube, leading to increased damage with increasing velocity. Our investigation focuses on the image analysis of the damage area and ejecta fragmentation in the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) tubes, as well as quantifying the resulting hole diameter. This data is crucial for validating corresponding computational models. In this study we present three separate methods of characterizing HVI including: impedance matching through equations of state, a hybrid Lagrangian finite element (FE) model using LS-DYNA with smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), and experimental investigations. All methods agree that HVI can cause nearly three times the amount of damage within a tube compared to similar conditions on a plate. Our findings help enhance our understanding of MMOD impact risks on existing structures and contribute to the development of systems with greater resilience to HVI.