Crushing Characteristics Comparison between Aluminum/CFRP and Aluminum/CFRP/Aluminum Hybrid Tubes

This study experimentally investigated the axial crushing characteristics of the hybrid tubes with the configuration of aluminum/carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) (1/1) and aluminum/CFRP/aluminum (2/1). The effects of geometry size and fiber lay-up sequence on the axial crushing energy-absorption performances and failure modes of the two types of hybrid tubes were compared. The results showed that the energy absorption of the specimens with [0 degrees/90 degrees] lay-up sequence was better than that of the ones with [45 degrees/-45 degrees] lay-up sequence for both types of hybrid tubes. The proper length of the tubes should be selected to avoid too small a length-to-diameter ratio so that a stable and controllable progressive crushing failure mode can be achieved. When the crushing failure process was relatively stable, the specific energy absorption and crushing force efficiency of the 2/1 hybrid tubes were not affected by the geometric size. The energy absorption of the hybrid tubes was higher than the sum of the energy absorption of all the corresponding individual tubes, showing a positive hybrid effect.

Automated summary

This study experimentally investigated the axial crushing characteristics of hybrid tubes with aluminum/CFRP and aluminum/CFRP/aluminum configurations. The results showed that hybrid tubes with [0 degrees/90 degrees] fiber lay-up sequence exhibited better energy absorption performance. Selecting an appropriate tube length-to-diameter ratio is important to achieve a stable and controllable progressive crushing failure mode. The hybrid effect of the energy absorption of hybrid tubes was better than that of individual tubes.