DYMAT 2009 (2009) 771-777
DOI: 10.1051/dymat/2009108

Numerical axial impact study of pultruded circular and square composite tubes

S. Palanivelu¹, W. Van Paepegem¹, J. Degrieck¹, D. Kakogiannis², J. Van Ackeren², D. Van Hemelrijck², J. Wastiels², K. De Wolf³ and J. Vantomme<sup>3

1</sup>  Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Gent, Belgium
²  Department of Mechanics of Materials and Constructions, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
³  Royal Military Academy, Civil and Materials Engineering Department, Building G, Level 0, 8 Av. Hobbema, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Published online: 15 September 2009

Abstract
This paper focuses on the numerical energy absorption behaviour of pultruded circular and square cross sectional glass-polyester composite tubes under an axial impact loading case. In order to capture the typical failure modes such as delaminations, lamina bending, axial cracks and fibre fracturing, a new innovative approach was used using multiple shell elements, cohesive elements and pre-defined seams. To predict the correct peak crush load and the corresponding energy absorption, the importance of the numerical modelling of multiple delaminations and triggering are discussed. Two types of triggering were chosen for the study. Finally, the results of this numerical investigation are compared with experimental data. The commercially available finite element code ABAQUS V6.7-3 Explicit was used for this study.

© EDP Sciences 2009