Crushing of hybrid square sandwich composite vehicle hollow bodyshells with reinforced core subjected to axial loading: numerical simulation

The present paper is dealing with the implementation of the explicit FE Code LS-DYNA to the simulation of the crash behaviour and energy absorption characteristics of thick-walled square tubular crashworthy bodyshells made of hybrid sandwich composite panels with integral FRP (fibre-reinforced plastic) hollow cylindrical inserts subjected to axial compressive loading. The obtained numerical results are compared with actual experimental data from small-scale physical models in terms of deformation modes, energy absorption capability, load/deflection history and crush zone characteristics, showing very good agreement.