Design and certification of a composite thin-walled structure for energy absorption
by Paolo Feraboli, Chris Norris, Doug McLarty
International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), Vol. 44, No. 3/4, 2007

Abstract: Thin-walled Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) energy-absorbing devices have been successfully used in premier racing leagues to drastically improve the crashworthiness of a vehicle. Since their introduction in Formula 1 (F1) in the second half of the 1990s, the Rear Impact (RIMP) attenuators have received particular attention and their utilisation has been documented in scholarly publications. The engineering development and certification of the RIMP of the Star Mazda Racecar is discussed in detail. Quasi-static and dynamic crush tests are performed on two RIMP designs, featuring very different stacking sequences, are experimentally investigated. While the overall behaviour is quite different, they both exhibit the ability to collapse in a stable, progressive fashion. Furthermore, although the overall shape of the load-stroke diagram, energy absorption characteristics and failure behaviour have shown very good agreement, the quasi-static test results tend to substantially overestimate the effective dynamic energy absorption characteristics. The final RIMP design is selected based on its higher energy absorption and friendlier manufacturing characteristics.

Online publication date: Thu, 10-May-2007

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