The influence of areal density of prepreg on crashworthiness of CFRP composite in quasi-static conditions

Grażyna Ryzińska

Pre-print pages 1-12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62753/ctp.2025.02.2.2

keywords: CFRP, composite, crushing, SEA, areal density

abstract In this work, experimental compression tests were performed in quasi-static conditions on composite specimens in the form of tubes of two different diameters (20 mm and 42 mm). The specimens were made of 3k carbon prepregs with a dry fabric areal density of 160 g/m2 and 204 g/m2, plain, and unidirectional (UD) with an areal density of 200 g/m2. The experiment determined the maximum forces (Pmax), average forces (Pi), and the value of absorbed energy (SEA). It was shown that the use of a 21% higher areal density increases the SEA by about 25% for the plain prepreg. Changing the type of prepreg from plain to UD with a similar areal density increases the SEA by 39% - 53%.