Paper number 936

STATIC ENERGY ABSORPTION CAPACITY OF GRAPHITE-EPOXY TUBES

Michael W. Hyer and Marc R. Schultz

Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

Summary

This paper examines the energy absorption capacity of Akzo Nobel Fortafil 50k carbon fiber composite tubular specimens crushed axially in a quasi-static fashion. Round and square tubular specimens with ±45° and ±45°/0° constructions were studied. As a comparison, similar tubular specimens were fabricated using T300 12k fiber, an aerospace standard. The towpreg form of these materials, obtained from Thiokol TCR Composites Division, was fila-ment wound to produce specimens. The fundamental issue was to study the energy absorption capacity of the lower cost 50k material in comparison to the 12k material, and to determine the influence of specimen geometry and fiber orientation schemes on the energy absorption capacity.

Keywords

crashworthiness, specific energy absorption, load ratio, crushing characteristics, low cost, tubes.