Energy Absorption Performances of Square Winding Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Composite Tubes

This paper investigates the energy absorption response of winding kenaf fiber composite tubes when subjected to an axial quasi-static crushing test. The square composites were prepared firstly by submerging the kenaf yarn into resin bath before it is warped around the mould for different number of layers and fiber orientations. The parameters measured were peak load, mean load and specific energy absorption. Collapse mechanisms during the progressive collapses were observed as a function of tube length. It is found that as-expected, number of layers played an important role in increasing the energy absorption performances. However, fiber alignments have insignificant effect on the absorbed energy. A surface bulge appeared on the one side of the tube walls responsible for premature failure of the composite prior to the progressive collapse. Keyword-Energy Absorption, Natural Fiber, Kenaf Fiber, Composite Tubes, Collapse Mechanism