• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.10
• /
• pp.177-182
• /
• 2003

The front-end side members of automobiles absorb most of the energy in a case of front-end collision. The front-end side members are required to have a high stiffness together with easiness to collapse sequentially to absorb more impact energy. The axial static collapse test (5mm/min) was conducted by using UTM for form different types of members which have different cross section shapes; single hat, single cap, double cap, and double hat. The single hat shaped section member has the typical standard section, which the double hat shape section has a symmetry in the center to have more stiffness. As a result of the test, the energy absorbing characteristic was analyzed for different section shapes. It turned out that the change of section shape influence the absorbing energy, the mean collapse load and the maximum collapse load, and the relation between the change of section shape and the collapse mode.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.83-86
• /
• 2005

The front-end side members of automobiles, such as the hat-shaped section member, absorb most of the energy during the front-end collision. The side members absorb more energy in collision if they have higher strength and stiffness, and stable folding capacity (local buckling). Using the above characteristics on energy absorption, vehicle should be designed light-weight to improve fuel combustion ratio and reduce exhaust gas. Because of their specific strength and stiffness, CFRP are currently being considered for many structural (aerospace vehicle, automobiles, trains and ships) applications due to their potential for reducing structural weight. Although CFRP members exhibit collapse modes that are significantly different from the collapse modes of metallic materials, numerous studies have shown that CFRP members can be efficient energy absorbing materials. In this study, the CFRP side members were manufactured using a uni-directional prepreg sheet of carbon/Epoxy and axial static collapse tests were performed for the members. The collapse mode and the energy absorption capability of the members were analyzed under the static load.