Effects of energy level and impact repetitions on the impact fatigue behaviour and post-impact flexural properties of square FRP pultruded tubes

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effects of impact energy level and impact repetitions on the impact fatigue behaviour and post-impact flexural properties of square FRP composite tubes. Impact testing was done by axially impacting a 100 mm square pultruded tube with an energy level ranging from 158 to 742 J using a drop-weight impact apparatus. Coupons were then taken from the impacted tubes and tested statically under three-point bending to determine their post-impact flexural properties. The results showed that the effects of energy level and impact repetitions are significant on the rate of energy absorption behaviour of the FRP tubes before its collapse. Their effects, however, are negligible when the tube ruptures. It was also found that the post-impact flexural properties of the impacted tubes are reduced at higher impact energies and more impact repetitions. The maximum reduction of the strength and modulus are 10 and 3.7%, respectively

    Similar works