Design and certification of a composite thin-walled structure for energy absorption

Thin-walled Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) energy-absorbing devices have been successfully used in premier racing leagues to drastically improve the crashworthiness of a vehicle. Since their introduction in Formula 1 (F1) in the second half of the 1990s, the Rear Impact (RIMP) attenuators have received particular attention and their utilisation has been documented in scholarly publications. The engineering development and certification of the RIMP of the Star Mazda Racecar is discussed in detail. Quasi-static and dynamic crush tests are performed on two RIMP designs, featuring very different stacking sequences, are experimentally investigated. While the overall behaviour is quite different, they both exhibit the ability to collapse in a stable, progressive fashion. Furthermore, although the overall shape of the load-stroke diagram, energy absorption characteristics and failure behaviour have shown very good agreement, the quasi-static test results tend to substantially overestimate the effective dynamic energy absorption characteristics. The final RIMP design is selected based on its higher energy absorption and friendlier manufacturing characteristics.(A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14775360
• Authors:
  • FERABOLI, P
  • MCLARTY, D
  • NORRIS, C
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 247-267
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Vehicle Design
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue Number: 3/4
  • Publisher: Inderscience Enterprises Limited
  • ISSN: 1477-5360
  • Serial URL: http://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=IJVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Absorption; Carbon; Composite materials; Crashes; Deformation; Energy; Fibers; Race cars; Test procedures; Vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 6758: Absorption; 7158: Carbon; 1631: Collision; 9005: Composite; 5595: Deformation; 213: Energy; 4557: Fibre; 1230: Racing car; 6288: Test method; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Energy; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01060981
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 10 2007 1:55PM