Metal/polymer composite cylinders for crash energy absorption applications

• Published in: Polymer composites 2022-12, Vol.43 (12), p.8771-8783
• Main Authors: Alshahrani, Hassan, Sebaey, Tamer A., Awd Allah, Mahmoud M., Abd El‐baky, Marwa A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; aluminum cylinders; Axial compression; Crashworthiness; Crush tests; Cylinders; Deformation; Deformation effects; Energy absorption; Failure mechanisms; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; Glass-epoxy composites; Impact strength; Indicators; Layers; Parameter identification; Peak load; Polymer matrix composites; quasi‐static axial compression; Response surface methodology
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.27060

The crashworthiness performance and the deformation history of glass fiber reinforced epoxy (GFRP) composite over wrapped aluminum (Al) cylinders with induced holes were experimentally studied. Specimens were fabricated using wet wrapping by hand lay‐up process and tested under quasi‐static axial compression. Crashworthiness indicators that is, the initial peak load Fip, mean crush load (Fm), total absorbed energy (U), specific absorbed energy (SEA), and crush force efficiency (CFE) of the proposed cylinders were evaluated. The influence of the number of GFRP plies (P), the diameter (d), and number (N) of induced holes on the crashworthiness performance and the deformation history has also been identified. The experimental outcomes showed that the studied parameters have a significant effect on the crashworthiness performance and the deformation history. Increasing “P” increases Fip, Fm, U, and CFE while decreasing SEA. Inducing holes with “d” up to 8 mm reduces Fip, Fm, U, SEA, and CFE of GFRP/Al cylinders. After that the trend is reversed for all indicators except for Fip. GFRP/Al cylinders with “N = 2” exhibits lower Fip and higher Fm, U, SEA, and CFE than cylinders with “N = 1”. Hybridization process and inducing holes could alter Al‐cylinders' failure mechanism. The relation between the crashworthiness indicators and the studied parameters has been constructed by response surface methodology (RSM) to be used by the engineering designers. Al‐P6‐d12‐N2 is recommended to be used in crash energy absorption applications that is, energy absorbing device in vehicles. Fabrication and testing of Al/GFRP cylinder for crashworthiness applications.