Development of energy absorption parts with FRP tubes

Tapered composite tubes have high energy absorption performance under the a xial compressive load. We have tried to formulate the total energy absorbed by each fracture to control the energy absorption capabilities. In this pa per, the changes in energy absorption and crush mechanism using internal an d external mandrels were investigated based on the formulation. Specific en ergy absorptions of the tubes using mandrels were higher than that of tubes compressed with Aat plates because many of the fractures depended on energ y absorption generate by the use of mandrels. For example, the glass cloth/ epoxy tube using an external mandrel displayed specific energy absorption o f 116 kJ/kg, which was the highest value recorded for any glass reinforced plastics.