Response of trigger type to circular CFRP crash box energy absorption performance.

In this study, carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites were produced to investigate the trigger effect on energy absorption performance. Production was carried out by vacuum infusion method. Three types of trigger geometry were opened on the composite crash boxes produced and also comparison sample without trigger was prepared. The quasi-static compression tests of these four different samples were carried out and the energy absorption performances of the samples were evaluated with the obtained data. In addition, the damages of the samples were examined, and it was revealed how they changed with the trigger. Accordingly, the sample described as S-2, (the triggered sample, which consists of four symmetrical slits downwards from its upper surface) exhibited the best performance in terms of absorbed energy. Additionally, the peak forces were reduced with the triggers opened and the maximum peak force decreases were seen in S-3(with hole type triggers) and S-4 (with horizontal slit type triggers) samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]