The crushing performance of a braided I-beam

Braided composite beams with an I-shaped cross-section, i.e, braided I-beams, possess high bending stiffness because fibers con stituting the braiding structure are continuously oriented. Axial compression loading of a braided I-beam leads to progressive crushing when a chamfer is cut on one end. This configuration results in high energy-absorption performance. It is therefore possible to retain the space of a vehicle compartment in frontal and lateral collisions so that, in the automotive industry, it is useful for the side members of vehicles. To examine the energy-absorption mechanism of braided I-beams, observations have been made of the crush zone of a partially crushed I-beam. The crushing mechanism of a braided I-beam is similar to that of a composite cylinder in which reinforcing fibers are oriented in axial and hoop directions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.