Effect of Specimen Geometry on the Energy Absorption Capability of Composite Materials

Abstract

Static crushing tests were conducted on graphite and Kevlar¹ reinforced epoxy tubes to examine the influence of specimen geometry on the energy absorption capability of com posite materials. Tube inside diameter to wall thickness (D/t) ratio was determined to sig nificantly affect the energy absorption capability of composite materials. As D/t ratio decreases, the energy absorption capability increases nonlinearly. The energy absorption capability of K/E tubes was found to be geometrically scalable but energy absorption of Gr/E tubes was not geometrically scalable.