Energy Absorption CHaracteristics on Hybrid Beams Strengthened with CFRP Laminates under Impact Loading

Abstract

This paper describes the energy absorption characteristics under impact loading or aluminum beam structure strengthened with CFRP laminates for the light weight vehicles without sacrificing crashworthy safety. Impact tests using air gun were performed with the specimens in three-point bending flexure with consideration given to the door-impact beam in the vehicle. The absorbed energy to the specimen during the impact was calculated from the load-displacement curve which was obtained from the strain gauge attached to the impactor and the laser displacement transducer. From the results, it was found that the strengthening by externally bonding with CFRP laminates improved the impact-induced energy absorption. Also, the effect of the improvement was clearly seen in the case of use of form filling together with attaching CFRP laminates.