Crashworthiness of C-Shaped CFRP Composites: A Numerical and Experimental Study

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are widely used in transportation applications for structural components due to their outstanding lightweight and crashworthiness properties. Unlike metals, these composites fail through a combination of different failure mechanisms that contribute to the energy absorption capability of the final structure. In this study, the crash absorption capability of flat and C-shaped CFRPs, specifically carbon/epoxy composites, under dynamic conditions was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Initially, Charpy impact tests were conducted at different impact velocities using a three-point bending procedure. Subsequently, a finite element model was developed and simulated using LS-DYNA software. The numerical results closely replicated the outcomes of the physical experiments and exhibited a strong correlation with the experimental data, thereby validating the effectiveness of the designed model. Furthermore, the model successfully reproduced the observed damage mechanisms occurring during the physical tests, demonstrating its capability to accurately capture the composite behavior under the prescribed impact loading conditions.