In this paper, braided composite I-beams are considered as possible candidates for crushing elements in cars. A description is given on the braiding process and the various mechanisms which can be used to produce different types of braided preforms, including I-beams. The mechanical performance of these braided I-beams under four-point bending is presented. The I-beams are also loaded in compression to investigate their progressive crush performance. The introduction of a chamfer on one end of the beams enabled high energy absorption values to be achieved through progressive crush. Investigation into the crush zone of partially crushed I-beams was also carried out to determine the energy absorption mechanisms which exist in such structures. A database of crush performance values (specific energy absorption) of composite tubes for a range of material systems is also presented, which has the potential to be used in the design of composite beams for crush elements in cars. From the crush and bending tests, it is concluded that the use of a braided composite in a car body is highly possible. To do so, several issues need to be addressed which are identified and discussed in this paper.
Can braided composites be used for crushing elements in cars?
Können Flechtware-Verbundstoffe als Stauchelemente in Kraftwagen eingesetzt werden?
1997
29 Seiten, 34 Bilder, 4 Tabellen, 36 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Crushing performance of braided composites
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|Crushing Performance of Braided Composites
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|Crushing Performance of Braided Composites
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|Crushing Behavior of Braided Composites
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|Axial crushing performance of braided composite tubes
Kraftfahrwesen | 2005
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