An experimental study on energy absorbing structures made of fabric composites

Egg-box shaped energy absorbing structures made of fabric composites were fabricated to find out the compressive characteristics and energy absorption capacity. Various stacking sequences and boundary conditions (unconstrained and bonded) were examined to investigate the stress–strain curves during compression. Failure modes of composite egg-box panels were observed and investigated correlating each step of meaningful collapsing behaviour. In order to check out the possibility as an ideal energy absorbers foam filled composite egg-box panels were fabricated and tested. From the test results it was found that the foam filled composite egg-box panels had good energy absorption capacity with smooth stress–strain curves which resembles the ideal energy absorber. The energy absorption per unit mass of composite egg-box panels made of different types of material and stacking sequences was calculated and compared with.