A FEM METHOD FOR PREDICTION OF ENERGY-ABSORPTION CAPABILITY OF CRASHWORTHY POLYMER COMPOSITE-MATERIALS

Crashworthy performance of composite materials is commonly expressed i n terms of specific energy absorption capability. It is determined by progressive crushing of tubular composite specimen by applying axial c ompressive load. The specific energy absorption capability of composit e material is calculated using the mean crush load obtained from the c ompression test. In this work efforts have been made to develop a fini te element calculation method for predicting the mean crush load. For analysis purpose, we considered filament wound glass fiber/epoxy and w oven glass fiber/epoxy composite tubes which crush by splaying mode. B ased on the microscopic observations, various microfracture processes in the splaying mode crush zone were identified. Longitudinal cracking of tube wall is relatively important compared to other fracture proce sses. The contribution of longitudinal cracking of tube wall on the me an crush load and energy absorption capability of composite material w as estimated. The predicted values were in reasonably good agreement w ith the experimental results.