Static axial crush performance of unfilled and elastomer-filled composite tubes

Abstract

Abstract. The paper presents the results of the experimental static axial crush performance of unfilled and filled composite tubes. Composites are widely used as materials for energy absorbing structures because of their low density and a very high absorbed energy in relation to the mass ratio. Foamed materials are used in order to additionally increase their efficiency, because of stabilizing the progressive crush. It was proved by many authors that various foamed materials positively influence the energy absorption. In this work authors took effort to evaluate a very different material as a filler of common composite elements -elastomers. Elastomers are materials characterised by very high crush strains and viscoelastic properties. The tube shaped specimens made of epoxy composite, reinforced with carbon or glass fabrics were filled with elastomers of 40; 60; 70 and 90• ShA hardnesses. The influence of the elastomer hardness and the filling degree on the energy absorption factor (EA) was evaluated. The degree of filling the specimens with elastomers is determined by a different size of the elastomer perforation. Elastomers have a negative impact on the energy absorbed by the composite tubes.

State‐of‐the‐art review on honeycomb sandwich composite structures with an emphasis on filler materials

“…Ochelski et al [57] analyzed the crushing potential of unfilled and elastomer-filled composite tubular structures. Ochelski et al [58] investigated the performance of unfilled and foam-filled fiber-reinforced tubes.…”

Experimental Tests on the Composite Foam Sandwich Pipes Subjected to Axial Load

“…Palanivelu and Vantomme [7] conducted a series of tests on the axial compression of unidirectional glass fiber composite tubes filled with polyurethane foam tubes, and they discovered that foam delays the failure of the composite tube fiber under pressure and improves the ultimate load bearing capacity under axial compression. Ochelski et al [8] carried out a control test for axial compression using composite pipes filled with elastic rubber and pure composite thin-walled pipes. The energy absorption efficiency of the sample was found to be the highest at a filling ratio of 22 %; and different filling ratios have a significant impact on the ultimate load-bearing capacity of the sample under axial compression, which can be doubled at best.…”