Effect of Tilt Angle Compression on the Failure Performance of Thin-Walled Tubes

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of different compression angles on the compression performance of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) thin-walled tubes. It explores the potential improvement of performance by aluminum foam filling. CFRP tubes with different wall thicknesses (1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm) were used in the experiments. Quasi-static compression tests were conducted at 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45° compression angles to investigate the effects of compression angle changes on the mechanical response and energy absorption characteristics of CFRP tubes. The experimental results showed that the compression angle significantly affected the damage mode, energy absorption (EA), specific energy absorption (SEA), peak crushing force (PCF), and collision force efficiency (CFE) of CFRP tubes. Under axial compression (0°), CFRP tubes display their highest energy absorption capacity and stability. However, as the compression angle increases, particularly up to 45°, there is a notable decline in the EA, SEA, PCF, and CFE. This decrease correlates with a rise in buckling and shear damage modes, which are characteristics of oblique compression. In addition, aluminum foam filling significantly improved CFRP tubes’ energy absorption efficiency and crashworthiness. Aluminum-filled CFRP tubes exhibited higher EA and CFE than unfilled tubes at all tested compression angles, especially at 0° compression angle, where aluminum-filled CFRP tubes with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm achieved 81.6% CFE. This result highlights the significant role of aluminum-filled foams in improving the performance of CFRP tubes.