Static axial crush performance of unfilled and elastomer-filled composite tubes

The use and the combination of new, high efficient materials for crashworthiness is of great interest nowadays. Foamed materials are commonly used to increase efficiency of composite materials. Based on the results obtained by Brachos and Douglas, it can be concluded that the sum of the energy absorption capabilities of the foamed filling and unfilled composite tubes is smaller than the energy absorbed by the tubes filled with the same filling. The paper presents the results of the experimental investigations into the influence of filling the tubes with different materials on the impact energy absorption capability. The tube shaped specimens made of epoxy composite, reinforced with carbon or glass fabrics were filled with foamed aluminium or foamed poly(vinyl chloride). It was proved that the foamed materials increase the energy absorption and the absorbed energy of the tubes filled with foams is greater than the sum of the energy absorbed by the composite tube without filling and the foamed material itself investigated separately, when the wall thickness is more than 2 mm. The investigations of the filled tubes with the thickness of walls equal to 1 mm showed lower absorbed energy values because the crushing force had decreased during the crush. The investigations were executed to show what are the effects of filling composite energy absorbing elements in the shape of tubes with foamed materials. Additionally, influence of tube wall thickness and crush mechanism were studied.