• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.149-157
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• 2002

This paper is to investigate collapse mechanisms of CFRP(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics)composite tubes and to evaluate collapse characteristics on the change of interlaiminar number and ply orientation angle of outer under static and impact axial compression loads. When a CFRP composite tube is crushed, static/impact energy is consumed by friction between the loading plate and the splayed fronds of the tube, by fracture of the fibers, matrix and their interface. These are associated with the energy absorption capability. In general, CFRP tube with 6 interlaminar number(C-type), absorbed more energy than other tubes(A, B, D-types). The maximum collapse load seemed to increase as the interlaminar number of such tubes increases. The collapse mode depended upon orientation angle of outer of CFRP tubes and loading status(static/impact). Typical collapse modes of CFRP tubes are wedge collapse mode, splaying collapse mode and fragmentation collapse mode. The wedge collapse mode was shown in case of CFRP tubes with 0° orientation angle of outer under static and impact loadings. The splaying collapse mode was shown in only case of CFRP tubes with 90°orientation angle of outer under static loadings, however in Impact tests those were collapsed in fragmentation mode .