The Influence of Nanosilica on Energy Absorption Capacity of Composite Tubes

In this paper, effect of adding nanosilica on energy absorption capacity of composite tubes under quasi-static axial loading has been investigated experimentally. Nanoparticles with approximate size of 10-15 nm are dispersed into epoxy system in a 0%, 0.5%, 1.5% and 3% ratio in weight with respect to the matrix. The epoxy resin matrix is made of Epon 828, as the epoxy prepolymer and F205 hardener, as the curing agent. Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubes were manufactured from continuous glass fiber using a filament winding machine with ±55° angle with respect to axis of tube. All the specimens crushed axially at a loading rate of 5 mm/min. Typical time histories, deformation and load compression curves for specimens were obtained and the amount of energy absorbed by each sample is calculated. The experimental results revealed that by adding nanoparticles to glass-fiber/epoxy tubes, as the second reinforcement phase, it is possible to change the micro-mechanism of crash and therefore, control the energy absorption characteristics of the composites.