• Composites Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.32-38
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• 2009

In this study, the energy absorption capabilities and failure modes of four different kinds of circular tubes made of carbon, Kevlar and carbon-Kevlar hybrid composites with epoxy resin have been evaluated. In order to achieve these goals, these tubes were fabricated with unidirectional prepregs and compressive tests were conducted for the tubes under 10mm/min loading speed. From the test results, carbon/epoxy tubes were collapsed by brittle fracturing mode and showed the best energy absorption capabilities, while Kevlar/epoxy tubes were crushed by local buckling mode and worst. The hybrid [$90_C/0_K$] tubes were failed in a local bucking mode and showed good post crushing integrity, whereas [$90_K/0_C$] tubes were failed in a lamina bending mode and bad post crushing integrity.