Experimental Investigation of the Axial Crushing Response of Flax/Glass Eco-Hybrid Self-Supporting Web Composites

Abstract

This study investigates the quasi-static axial crushing tests of eco-hybrid composites based on flax and E-glass fibres strengthened with polyester resin. Five different configurations of self-supporting webs were fabricated to investigate the crushing behaviours of this eco-hybrid composite with different stacking sequences based on intercalation and sandwich-like sequences. The effect of different open-section web profiles was also investigated. The results were plotted in load-displacement curves and the specific energy absorption (SEA), as well as the crushing force efficiency (CFE), were calculated to evaluate the crushing response of each configuration. The test results verified the crushing mechanisms related to the energy absorption depending on the stacking sequence as well as the frontal profile. In this study, all specimens with the intercalation stacking sequence have achieved higher SEA and CFE than specimens with a sandwich-like stacking sequence. In terms of the frontal profile, the sine wave hat shape had the highest CFE, up to 80% compared to other web profiles. Thus, it demonstrated the capability of a sine wave hat-shape eco-composite based on flax fibre to be applied as a crashworthy material.