Static axial crush performance of unfilled and elastomer-filled composite tubes

The paper presents the results of the experimental static axial crush performance of unfilled and filled composite tubes. Composites are widely used as materials for energy absorbing structures because of their low density and a very high absorbed energy in relation to the mass ratio. Foamed materials are used in order to additionally increase their efficiency, because of stabilizing the progressive crush. It was proved by many authors that various foamed materials positively influence the energy absorption. In this work authors took effort to evaluate a very different material as a filler of common composite elements - elastomers. Elastomers are materials characterised by very high crush strains and viscoelastic properties. The tube shaped specimens made of epoxy composite, reinforced with carbon or glass fabrics were filled with elastomers of 40; 60; 70 and 90 degrees ShA hardnesses. The influence of the elastomer hardness and the filling degree on the energy absorption factor (EA) was evaluated. The degree of filling the specimens with elastomers is determined by a different size of the elastomer perforation. Elastomers have a negative impact on the energy absorbed by the composite tubes.