The static and dynamic axial collapse of fibreglass composite automotive frame rails
(EN)
Mamalis, AG
(EN)
Demosthenous, GA
(EN)
Ioannidis, MB
(EN)
Manolakos, DE
(EN)
An automotive frame rail of hourglass cross-section, made of a glass fibre/ vinylester composite, was designed for use in the apron construction of the car in order to obtain a high degree of crashworthiness at this location of the car body. The crashworthy behaviour of this structural component in axial compression at various strain rates (head-on collision) was studied experimentally. The modes of collapse at macroscopic scale, the microscopic fracture patterns and the energy absorbing capability of such rail beams were examined and discussed. A theoretical analysis of the collapse mechanism of the components tested under axial compression is proposed leading to a good approximation of the energy absorbed during crushing.
(EN)