Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4912379 | Composite Structures | 2016 | 29 Pages |
Abstract
This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation into the behaviour of braided CFRP tubes subjected to quasi-static and dynamic axial crushing. Tubes of six different geometries, with round, rectangular or square cross-sections, with 2-4 plies of triaxial braids, were tested. Two types of square tubes were also tested with a plug initiator. Comparisons were made by examining the failure modes, load-displacement curves, specific energy absorption (SEA), and the ratio of the peak load to the average progressive crush load. When tested without a plug initiator, the crush characteristics of these tubes differed significantly under the two loading rates. Under quasi-static crush, tubes showed a greater tendency to fail in an unstable manner, characterized by global buckling, folding of the walls and crushing at both ends of the tube. Therefore, quasi-static crush testing should be used with caution when evaluating dynamic response of a structure. In dynamic testing, seven out of the eight configurations failed in a stable manner, with damage initiating at the bottom and propagating up the length of the tube in a splaying type failure mode. The smaller square and the round tubes performed the best, displaying higher SEA and lower load ratio values.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Engineering
Civil and Structural Engineering
Authors
Carla McGregor, Reza Vaziri, Anoush Poursartip, Xinran Xiao,