Investigation of plate geometry on the crushing of flat composite plates

The aim of this work was to identify the energy absorbing capabilities of fibre reinforced composites manufactured using glass-fibre multiaxial warp-knit non-crimp fabrics (NCF) for use in low-cost, weight-critical energy absorbing structures. A variety of layups, using polyester and epoxy matrices, were evaluated using a plate crush rig. The plates were tested at varying unsupported widths to identify the stability of the different orientations. It was found that the energy absorbed was dependent upon the stability of the laminates and possible delamination of outer plies during the crush. The different resins appeared to have little influence in the specific crushing stresses (SSCS). Additionally, comparison of the results with the literature for tubes showed that the trends observed for the crushing of plates were comparable.