Parametric study of energy absorption characteristics of a rectangular aluminum tube wrapped with e-glass/epoxy

Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.Analysis of crashworthy structures has been a primary area of interest for many researchers for quite a few years now. The quest for a better energy absorbing structure ora better crashworthy structure has led researchers to carry out various analysis procedures experimentally and also by simulating the characteristics. E-glass fiber reinforced epoxy wrapped over aluminum tube has proven to possess better energy absorbing capabilities. This study attempts to analyze certain characteristics of such hybrid structures. This thesis examines the properties with respect to energy absorption of the abovementioned tubes when certain parameters such as ply orientation, angle of impact, speed of impact for different aspect ratios, are varied. The axial crushing behavior and the energy absorption capability of aluminum composite hybrid tube under quasi-static loading is studied using LS-Dyna finite element solver. A aluminum tube, externally wrapped with E-glass epoxy composite material with two layers and ply orientation of +/- 30o, +/- 45o and 0/90o, are used for finite element analysis. The speeds considered are 8mph, 15mph and 30mph. The angles of impact considered are 0o, 15o, and 30o. The analysis is carried out for various permutations and combinations of the above mentioned Parameters, and the results obtained are studied and aims at optimum set of parameters for making the energy absorption of such hybrid structures