Title: On the axial crumpling of fibre-reinforced composite thin-walled conical shells

Authors: A.G. Mamalis, D.E. Manolakos, G.L. Viegelahn, S.M. Yap, G.A. Demosthenous

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

Abstract: In this article we report on the axial compression and crash behaviour of conical frusta, made from chopped strand glass mat and polyester resin. The effect of specimen geometry. i.e. thickness, length of the shell and its apical angle, on the energy-absorbing capability are being studied both experimentally and analytically. Attention is directed towards the mechanics of the axial crumpling process from a macroscopic point of view for facilitating engineering design calculations of the amount of energy dissipated and the buckling loads exerted during quasi-static loading.

Keywords: axial crumpling; buckling loads; conical frusta; crashworthiness; energy absorption; load deflection; failure mode; polyester resin; fibre-reinforced composites; thin-walled conical shells; crash behaviour; chopped strand glass mat; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1991.061692

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1991 Vol.12 No.4, pp.450 - 467

Published online: 27 May 2014 *

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