The Influence of Fiber Orientation and Stacking Sequence on the Crush Behavior of Hybrid AL/GFRP Tubes under Axial Impact

Abstract

This research was aimed to study the effect of fiber orientation and stacking sequence of hybrid tube subjected to axial impact. The specimens were composite AL/GFRP, made of circular aluminum tubes and wrapped with 1, 2 or 3 layers of E-glass/polyester. The specimens were manufactured by hand lay-up technique in vacuum bag. Different ply angles of GFRP fiber which are 0°, 45° and 90° and their combination were applied. Various stacking sequence of GFRP layers were used, forming different types of specimen. Specimens were tested using a vertical impact testing machine with a 30 kg hammer dropped from 2.43 m height to strike the specimens. The results revealed that hybrid tube of AL/GFRP can resist higher impact load than AL tube. The stacking sequence and fiber orientation were found to have influence on failure mode and hence the crashworthiness behavior of specimens. Keeping 90° of fiber ply angle in the outer layer of specimen could to provide highest maximum and also mean loads. The collapse mechanism of each tube was examined in detailed and mode of collapse was also discussed. FEA simulation by ABAQUS^® was also used for detailed investigation and compared to experiment. Good agreement was achieved.