ON THE BENDING OF AUTOMOTIVE FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITE THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES

The bending of cantilever, thin-walled, frame rail beams of non-conven tional cross-section and made of a glass fibre/vinyl ester composite i s studied both theoretically and experimentally. This structure has be en designed for use in the apron location of the car body to provide a high degree of crashworthiness. Various factors affecting the energy- absorbing efficiency of the rail beams, such as end and loading condit ions, are examined and the associated failure mechanisms are analysed and discussed in detail.