AXIAL CRUSHING OF GFRP FRUSTA: EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS

Experimental and numerical analysis of the axial crushing of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) frusta tubes are presented in this study. The frusta tubes are fabricated from plain woven C-glass fabric bonded with the epoxy system LY-556 resin and HY951 hardener. Two semi-apical angles 5º and 10º with 95mm height and 1.4mm wall thickness were studied under quasi-static crush conditions. All specimens showed progressive damage in region starts from the contact with the crushing crosshead and spreads about 7mm ahead the crushing surface. Mix of tiny debris and strip shaped chunks are generated in the crushing zone. The debris is accumulated as outside or inside fronds formation. The strip shaped chunks are generated peripherally due to shear effects by crusting from the frusta body and crack growth at the outmost crush zone points from the crushing surface. The 5º frusta showed better crashworthiness performance than 10º frusta. Simulation results showed good agreement with the experimental findings in both collapse mode and energy absorption.