Crashworthiness and Failure Analyses of FRP Composite Tubes under Low Velocity Transverse Impact

Currently, FRP composite tubes are drawing increasing attention in many industrial applications, due to their excellent mechanical and lightweight properties, with reduced energy consumption enhanced sustainability. This study investigates the failure mechanisms crashworthiness performance of glass carbon fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP CFRP) under low velocity transverse impact. Finite element methods were developed establish numerical models predict responses a complex ply sequence both woven unidirectional layers. In modelling, continuum damage mechanics cohesive zone method used calculate intralaminar interlaminar behaviours, respectively, tubes. The validated by corresponding experiments, effects impact material type investigated. experimental results show that initial does not significantly affect specific absorption (SEA) peak force (PF) GFRP tubes, SEA PF generally around 0.5 kJ/kg 600 N, when varies from 10 J 50 J. Failure mechanism analyses CFRP totally plies present global bending deformation significant matrix damage, “hybrid layer type” exhibit local penetration severe damage. indicate perform better while possess smaller subjected