Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Effect ofFiber Orientation on Crash Behavior of Composite HatShape Energy Absorber

Car body lightening and crashworthiness are two important objectives of car design. Due to their excellent performance, composite materials are extensively used in the car industries. In addition, reducing the weight of vehicle is effective in decreasing the fuel consumption. Hat shape energy absorber is used in car’s doors for side impact protection. Numerical and experimental studies are conducted in this work to understand the characteristics of energy absorption through the composite hat shape, and also to show the effect of fibers orientation angles on the amount of energy absorption. The effects of different fiber orientation on crushing behavior of hat shape structure are presented