Axial crush behaviours and energy absorption characteristics of aluminium and E-glass/epoxy over-wrapped aluminium conical frusta under low velocity impact loading

Low velocity axial impact crush behaviours and energy absorption characteristics of thin-walled aluminium conical (AC) and E-glass/epoxy composite over-wrapped aluminium conical hybrid frustrated shells (CWAC) have been studied through experimental and numerical procedures. In this regard, 15 degrees - 24 degrees semi-apical angled aluminium and hybrid conical test specimens of required thickness and fibre ply orientations were fabricated through hand layup method. The axial impact tests were performed at different strain rates on each AC and CWAC samples with the help of low velocity impact test setup in order to assess the energy absorption capacity of each specimen against impact loading. The influence of inertia, strain rate, addition of GFRP laminates over aluminium shell and GFRP fibre ply orientation towards the crashworthiness performances of various categories of conical frusta were analyzed. The low velocity impact tests were also simulated with the help of finite element analysis (FEA) techniques of ABAQUS (R) software in order to predict and compare the crashworthiness of each category of specimen model with experimental results. The obtained crashworthiness test results and collapse behaviours of FEA analysis are found in good agreement with the experimental results. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.