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2025 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Crashworthiness of C-Shaped CFRP Composites: A Numerical and Experimental Study

Authors : Monica Capretti, Maria Rosaria Ricciardi, Ilaria Papa, Valentina Lopresto, Simonetta Boria, Vincenza Antonucci

Published in: Dynamic Response and Failure of Composite Materials

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland

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Abstract

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are widely used in transportation applications for structural components due to their outstanding lightweight and crashworthiness properties. Unlike metals, these composites fail through a combination of different failure mechanisms that contribute to the energy absorption capability of the final structure. In this study, the crash absorption capability of flat and C-shaped CFRPs, specifically carbon/epoxy composites, under dynamic conditions was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Initially, Charpy impact tests were conducted at different impact velocities using a three-point bending procedure. Subsequently, a finite element model was developed and simulated using LS-DYNA software. The numerical results closely replicated the outcomes of the physical experiments and exhibited a strong correlation with the experimental data, thereby validating the effectiveness of the designed model. Furthermore, the model successfully reproduced the observed damage mechanisms occurring during the physical tests, demonstrating its capability to accurately capture the composite behavior under the prescribed impact loading conditions.

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Title: Crashworthiness of C-Shaped CFRP Composites: A Numerical and Experimental Study
Authors: Monica Capretti
Maria Rosaria Ricciardi
Ilaria Papa
Valentina Lopresto
Simonetta Boria
Vincenza Antonucci
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
Book: Dynamic Response and Failure of Composite Materials
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-77696-0

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-77697-7

Copyright Year: 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-77697-7_9