ENERGY-ABSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF HYBRID BRAIDED COMPOSITE TUBES

Increasing demands for greater automotive fuel economy coupled with in creased crashworthiness are forcing a move towards the use of tailored materials and structures. Among available composite structures, texti le composite assemblies such as achieved through braiding present imme nse potential for the tailoring of structural response. This study is focused on the determination of the effect of braid related parameters on the progressive crush of composite tubes. Parameters studied inclu de the type of fiber, braid yield, type of 2-D braid pattern and numbe r of layers used. The use of hybrids is investigated and it is shown t hat the appropriate use of such constructions can lead to very efficie nt structures in progressive crush.