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Energy absorption in crushing fiber-composite materials

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:7201575
Fiber-composite rod specimens with continuous E-glass fibers along the rod axis were crushed. Contributions of the various energy-dissipation processes to the total energy absorption are examined. Energy-dissipation processes examined included the conversion of elastic energy to sound, the fracture surface energy from fibers, matrix and the interface between them, the plastic-deformation energy, and the frictional energy. Estimates showed that the plastic deformation of the matrix and the frictional energy were the major energy-dissipating processes, each accounting for about 40 to 50% of the total energy absorption. The volume-specific energy absorption was found to increase with fiber content, fiber diameter, matrix compressive strength, and crush rate. A general damage-zone configuration was found in all crushed-fiber-composite rod specimens. It consisted of a core region featuring bands of broken fibers and a splayed-fiber region outside the core region featuring bent fibers. The general configuration was independent of trigger geometry, matrix compressive strength, and the fiber surface treatment.
Research Organization:
Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
OSTI ID:
7201575
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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