Bending response of hybrid composite tubular beams

The influence of inner and outer reinforcements on the bending performance of a thin walled aluminum tube was investigated. Polymeric materials (PA6, PP) and glass/carbon fiber reinforced epoxy were considered to form the composite beam for the inner and outer reinforcement, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the outer reinforcement with a [02/903] fiber orientation layout increased the collapse load by a factor of 4.5 and 5.3. In the hybrid composite beam (HCB), load carrying capacity (LCC) increased a maximum of 14 times. Load carrying capacity of HCB is 2.5 times higher than the steel tube that is used in automotive industry.