Uncertain evaluation of crashworthiness of thin-walled composite structures

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 1238-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Xie ◽  
Haolei Mou ◽  
Xuan Su ◽  
Zhenyu Feng

Purpose This paper aims to present an evaluation method for energy-absorption characteristics of thin-walled composite structures with random uncertain parameters. Design/methodology/approach The mechanical properties of T700/3234 are obtained by material performance tests and energy-absorption results are obtained by quasi-static crushing tests of thin-walled composite circular tubes. The indicators of triggering specific load (TSL) and specific energy absorption (SEA) are introduced and calculated to determine the energy-absorption characteristics and validate the probability finite element analysis model. The uncertainty in the parameters contain the machining tolerance for the thickness and inner diameter of composite circular tubes and are associated with the composite material system. The Plackett–Burman method is used to choose the measurement parameters. Then, the response surface method is used to build a second-order function of random uncertain parameters versus TSL/SEA, and the Monte Carlo method is finally used to obtain the probabilities of TSL and SEA. Findings The finite element models can accurately simulate the initial peak load, load-displacement curve and SEA value. The random uncertain parameter method can be used to evaluate the energy-absorption characteristics of thin-walled composite circular tubes. Practical implications The presented evaluation method for energy-absorption characteristics of thin-walled composite structures is an approach that considers uncertain parameters to increase the simulation accuracy and decrease the computational burden. Originality/value This methodology considers uncertain parameters in evaluating the energy-absorption characteristics of thin-walled composite structures, and this methodology can be applied to other thin-walled composite structures.

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Rongchao Jiang ◽  
Zongyang Gu ◽  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Dawei Liu ◽  
Haixia Sun ◽  
...  

Thin-walled tubes have gained wide applications in aerospace, automobile and other engineering fields due to their excellent energy absorption and lightweight properties. In this study, a novel method of entropy-weighted TOPSIS was adopted to study the energy absorption characteristics of a thin-walled circular tube under axial crushing. Three types of thin-walled circular tubes, namely, aluminum (Al) tubes, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) tubes and CFRP-Al hybrid thin-walled tubes, were fabricated. Quasi-static axial crushing tests were then carried out for these specimens, and their failure modes and energy absorption performance were analyzed. The CFRP material parameters were obtained through tensile, compression and in-plane shear tests of CFRP laminates. The finite element models for the quasi-static axial crushing of these three types of circular tubes were established. The accuracy of the finite element models was verified by comparing the simulation results with the test results. On this basis, the effects of the geometric dimension and ply parameters of a CFRP-Al hybrid thin-walled circular tube on the axial crushing energy absorption characteristics were studied based on an orthogonal design and entropy-weighted TOPSIS method. The results showed that Al tube thickness, CFRP ply thickness and orientation have great effect on the energy absorption performance of a CFRP-Al hybrid thin-walled circular tube, whereas the tube diameter and length have little effect. The energy absorption capability of a CFRP-Al hybrid tube can be improved by increasing the thickness of the Al tube and the CFRP tube as well as the number of ±45° plies.


BioResources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 5985-6002
Author(s):  
Peng Cheng ◽  
Qingchun Wang ◽  
Shi Ke

The specific energy absorption of a thin-walled tube can be improved by filler. This study examined the potential use of a cheaper biomass filler, paper scraps, to enhance the energy absorption characteristics of the structure while reducing its cost, compared to that with a traditional filler such as foam material. Quasi-static crushing tests and finite element simulations were performed by using the explicit non-linear finite element software LS-DYNA to determine the improvements to the mean crushing force and specific energy absorption of the steel tube when filled with different densities of paper scraps. The mean crushing force and specific energy absorption of the empty tube, the paper scraps, and thin-walled tube filled with paper scraps were determined, and corresponding numerical simulations were performed. The simulation and test results showed that the impact performance of tube filled with paper scraps was greatly improved when paper scraps density was 0.35 g/cm3. By optimizing paper scraps filling structure, a new structure that could further enhance the specific energy absorption was obtained. The optimal scheme could increase the specific energy absorption of Q345 steel tube by 11.35%.


Author(s):  
Peng Wang ◽  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Kun Tian ◽  
Qi Zhao ◽  
...  

Introducing nonuniform thickness has shown promising potential in enhancing the energy absorption of thin-walled tubes. However, existing studies were focused on the axial loading, with little attention being paid to the oblique loading condition. In this paper, the energy absorption performance and the deformation modes of the circular tubes with gradient thicknesses under oblique loads are investigated. Finite element simulations and experiments were carried out for both uniform-thick and gradient-thick tubes under the axial and oblique loads, and satisfactory agreement was achieved betweent the numerical and the experimental results. The validated finite element models were used to investigate the effects of the thickness gradient and loading angle on the deforamtion modes and the energy absorption. The results highlight the advantages of the gradient-thickness tubes in improving the energy absorption performance under the oblique loading condition, especially at a larger loading angle. A novel progressive bending deformation mode was observed for the tube with large thickness gradient at a loading angle larger than 15°, which is beneficial for the energy absorption performance.


Author(s):  
Haolei Mou ◽  
Zhenyu Feng ◽  
Jiang Xie ◽  
Jun Zou ◽  
Kun Zhou

AbstractTo analysis the failure and energy absorption of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) thin-walled square tube, the quasi-static axial compression loading tests are conducted for [±45]3s square tube, and the square tube after test is scanned to further investigate the failure mechanism. Three different finite element models, i.e. single-layer shell model, multi-layer shell model and stacked shell mode, are developed by using the Puck 2000 matrix failure criterion and Yamada Sun fiber failure criterion, and three models are verified and compared according to the experimental energy absorption metrics. The experimental and simulation results show that the failure mode of [±45]3s square tube is the local buckling failure mode, and the energy are absorbed mainly by intralaminar and interlaminar delamination, fiber elastic deformation, fiber debonding and fracture, matrix deformation cracking and longitudinal crack propagation. Three different finite element models can reproduce the collapse behaviours of [±45]3s square tube to some extent, but the stacked shell model can better reproduce the failure mode, and the difference of specific energy absorption (SEA) is minimum, which shows the numerical simulation results are in better agreement with the test results.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 477-484
Author(s):  
Hossein Goodarzi Hosseinabadi ◽  
Reza Bagheri ◽  
Volker Altstädt

Purpose Hexagonal honeycombs with meso-metric cell size show excellent load bearing and energy absorption potential, which make them attractive in many applications. However, owing to their bend-dominated structure, honeycombs are susceptible to deformation localization. The purpose of this study is to provide insight about shear band propagation in struts of 3D-printed honeycombs and its relation to the achieved macroscopic mechanical behavior. Design/methodology/approach Hexagonal honeycombs and unit cell models are 3D-printed by fused deposition modeling (FDM). The samples are exposed to compression loading and digital image correlation technique and finite element analyses are incorporated. Findings It is found that the strain contours, which are obtained by finite element, are in agreement with experimental measurements made by DIC. In addition, three stages of shear band propagation in struts of 3D-printed honeycombs are illustrated. Then the correlation between shear band propagation stages and the achieved macroscopic mechanical responses is discussed in detail. Originality/value For the first time, a hierarchical activation of different modes of shear band propagation in struts of a 3D-printed honeycomb is reported. This information can be of use for designing a new generation of honeycombs with tailor-made localization and energy absorption potential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 814-819
Author(s):  
Zdobyslaw Jan Goraj ◽  
Mariusz Kowalski ◽  
Bartlomiej Goliszek

Purpose This paper aims to present the results of calculations that checked how the longerons and frames arrangement affects the stiffness of a conventional structure. The paper focuses only on first stage of research – analysis of small displacement. Main goal was to compare different structures under static loads. These results are also compared with the results obtained for a geodetic structure fuselage model of the same dimensions subjected to the same internal and external loads. Design/methodology/approach The finite element method analysis was carried out for a section of the fuselage with a diameter of 6.3 m and a length equal to 10 m. A conventional and lattice structure – known as geodetic – was used. Findings Finite element analyses of the fuselage model with conventional and geodetic structures showed that with comparable stiffness, the weight of the geodetic fuselage is almost 20 per cent lower than that of the conventional one. Research limitations/implications This analysis is limited to small displacements, as the linear version of finite element method was used. Research and articles planned for the future will focus on nonlinear finite element method (FEM) analysis such as buckling, structure stability and limit cycles. Practical implications The increasing maturity of composite structures manufacturing technology offers great opportunities for aircraft designers. The use of carbon fibers with advanced resin systems and application of the geodetic fuselage concept gives the opportunity to obtain advanced structures with excellent mechanical properties and low weight. Originality/value This paper presents very efficient method of assessing and comparison of the stiffness and weight of geodetic and conventional fuselage structure. Geodetic fuselage design in combination with advanced composite materials yields an additional fuselage weight reduction of approximately 10 per cent. The additional weight reduction is achieved by reducing the number of rivets needed for joining the elements. A fuselage with a geodetic structure compared to the classic fuselage with the same outer diameter has a larger inner diameter, which gives a larger usable space in the cabin. The approach applied in this paper consisting in analyzing of main parameters of geodetic structure (hoop ribs, helical ribs and angle between the helical ribs) on fuselage stiffness and weight is original.


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