Energy absorption capacity of rubber sponge reinforcement in carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) tubes

This research aimed to study and experimentally determine the energy absorption capacity of rubber-reinforced carbon fiber tubes under axial load and crossover impact at angles [0/90] and [45/-45]. Rubber sponge was added at a density of 100 kg/m3. The specimens had a diameter of 42.58–48.24 mm depending on the thickness of the carbon fiber layer while the length was 100 mm. A hammer head velocity of 5.94 m/s was used at the point of impact and compared with modeling by FEA method. The results showed that there were 2 types of specimen damage: Type 1 was split and flared damage which was found in the group of laying fiber at angle [0/90], and this was further divided into 2 parts: collapse inward of the pipe and flare outward of the pipe. Type 2 damage occurred as a split and flared damage in shear force in the fiber at angle [45/-45]. In terms of maximum load and average load, it was found that the angle of fiber [45/-45]2 with rubber sponge reinforcement could reduce the maximum load better than the non-reinforced one by 41.13%. The energy absorption of the [45/-45]2 pipes were better than the others. The analysis of the FEA model found that the damage pattern and the resulting load tended to be in the same direction as the experiment and the damage of the weave in each layer could be observed as well.