Dynamic Axial Crush of Automotive Rail-Sized Composite Tubes Part 5: Effects of Test Conditions Including Impact Velocity and Temperature

摘要

This paper presents the results of a study of the effects of several test parameters on the dynamic axial crush response of automotive rail-sized composite tubes that a) had a 88.9×88.9 mm square cross section with 2.54 mm thick walls, b) were reinforced with continuous fibers, principally carbon fiber but also Kevlar and E-glass, and c) had been manufactured using Resin Transfer Molding (RTM with Dow 470 resin) with processing and molding techniques that are suitable for the low cost high volume needs of the automotive industry. Test parameters were the impact velocity, the test temperature, equal energy impacts with differing mass and velocity, and multiple impacts on the same test specimen. Findings of this study included that a) there was no real evidence of any consistent effect of impact velocity, b) there was little effect of test temperature between -40° and +82°C, and that c) a rail-sized composite tube is able to provide substantial crush force in each of two consecutive impacts.