Abstract

This paper presents the effect of corrugation geometry on the crushing behavior, energy absorption, failure mechanism, and failure mode of woven roving glass fibre/epoxy laminated composite tube. Experimental investigations were carried out on three geometrical different types of composite tubes subjected to axial and lateral compressive loadings. On the addition to a radial corrugated composite tube, cylindrical composite tube, and corrugated surrounded by cylindrical tube were fabricated and tested under the same condition in order to know the effect of corrugation geometry. The results showed that the loading carrying capability is significantly influenced by corrugation geometry in axial crushing. However, no affect of corrugation geometry was observed for lateral crushing. Load–displacement curve was plotted for all conducted tests, thus clear comparison between different specimen's geometry was achieved. It is also found that radial corrugation could significantly applicable as a stable and effective energy absorber.

Abstract

This paper is devoted to study the effect of corrugation geometry on the crushing behavior, energy absorption, failure mechanism, and failure mode of woven roving glass fibre/epoxy laminated composite tubes. A comprehensive experimental program has been carried out on two geometrically different types of composite tubes subjected to axial compressive loading conditions. A cylindrical composite tube has been fabricated and tested in order to provide a means of comparison with corrugated composite tube. Both are tested under the same condition to establish the effect of corrugation geometry. The results showed that the initial failure was dominated by interfacial failure, while a folded zone grows progressively down in a form of mushrooming failure. The results also showed that radial corrugated composite tube (RCCT) exhibited good energy absorption capability than circular composite tube (CCT).