Fiber-reinforced plastic composites for energy absorption purposes

The energy-absorbing characteristics in axial collapse of structures made from fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites are reviewed from both the materials and the structural viewpoints. The type and nature of the fiber and resin, the geometry of the structure and the fiber arrangement affect significantly the energy-absorbing capability, but the data currently available are not yet sufficient to give a clearly unambiguous answer for a particular situation. An effective trigger mechanism is necessary to initiate stable collapse since thin-wall structures in particular are prone to unstable collapse. Methods are described to estimate the energy-absorbing potential of an FRP composite structure.