Testing Methods for Energy Absorption of Kevlar/Epoxy

Dean D. Dubey* and Anthony J. Vizzini†

Gessow Center for Rotorcraft

Department of Aerospace Engineering
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742

Abstract
Twenty flat-plate specimens and six tubes were crushed under quasi-static conditions. The
energy absorbency of each specimen was measured resulting in a value of the specific sus-
tained crushing stress (SSCS). The plates and tubes were manufactured from 49/CYCOM 919
Kevlar/epoxy fabric and had the same layup providing a common laminate for comparison. The
flat plates were scored to facilitate the fracture of the laminate along the constraints during crush-
ing. Two different widths of flat plates were tested to determine the effect of the end conditions
of the testing fixture on the observed energy absorbency. The results for the flat-plate speci-
mens indicate that the energy absorbency per unit thickness is independent of the specimen test
width while maintaining the crushing mechanism. Thus, the edges of the testing fixture provided
no significant contribution to the energy absorbency. Furthermore, the results indicate that the
flat-plate geometry provides comparable energy absorption values to those of the tube geometry.

Introduction
Safe operation of aircraft and rotorcraft requires that occupants survive crash events at
various attitudes and velocities. Crew areas must not become lethal. A liveable volume must be
maintained, post-crash fires must not occur, and deceleration of the occupants must be limited
to prevent serious injury or death. Typically, a systems approach is taken to decelerate the
occupants. Initially, the landing gear stroke and then deform. Concurrently, the seat strokes. In
extreme conditions, the subfloor of the helicopter is sacrificed as a result of being crushed.
The Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) demonstrated that composite materials
are an effective part of a crashworthy design [1]. High energy absorbency per unit mass is
possible with composite materials if proper failure mechanisms are initiated and maintained
during the crash event. Whereas metals absorb energy primarily through plastic deformation,
composite materials absorb energy through a variety of failure mechanisms. For example,
Kevlar reinforced composites absorb energy through a buckling failure mechanism similar to
the accordion buckling modes of metal structures. Graphite- and glass-reinforced composites
absorb energy through successive failures involving delamination, intraply cracking, and fiber
fracture. Because energy absorbency of a composite structure is directly dependent on the failure
mode that occurs and the failure mode is a function of the laminate stacking sequence, the loading
history and environment, proper characterization ought to include off-axis crush tests [2].
* Graduate Research Assistant
† Associate Professor, member AHS

1
 An initial geometry used by researchers to study the energy absorption capabilities of
composite materials was the tube. This geometry is self stabilizing and allows testing of
relatively thin-section laminates. The lack of edges along its length reduces the complexity
of the boundary conditions and provides consistency throughout the cross section [2–4]. Using
this specimen geometry, Farley observed various energy absorbent failure modes [3]. Moreover,
he determined the influence of such factors as the friction of the crushing surface, strain rate,
material, and stacking sequence. These tests, however, were limited to uniaxial crushing.
Fleming and Vizzini used truncated cone specimens to investigate the effect of side loads and
specimen taper on the energy absorbency of composite graphite structures [2]; Knack and Vizzini
investigated these same issues for truncated Kevlar cones [5]. The tests on the truncated cones
demonstrated the effects of side loads; however, the cone geometry resulted in a combination
of failure modes which made further analysis difficult.
Jackson, et al developed a fixture to crush flat-plate specimens [6]. The fixture developed
stabilized the flat plates during crushing to avoid plate buckling. Flat-plate specimens are easier
to manufacture and are less expensive than tubes. Fleming and Vizzini adapted this fixture type
to allow the crushing of flat plates at specified angles of incidence [7]. The flat-plate specimens
indicated a performance degradation due to off-axis loading conditions.
Although the tube specimen with its finite D/t ratio may be used to indicate the potential
energy absorption of a given laminate, it remains a structural test. The diameter to thickness ratio,
D/t, of composite tube specimens affects the energy absorption capability of laminates. For thin
tubes, corresponding to large D/t, specimen crushing can become unstable leading to specimen
collapse [8]. Even for stable crushing situations, D/t may affect the measured energy absorbency
of composite specimens. Typically, Kevlar/epoxy composite specimens have a bilinear relation
between energy absorption and D/t, while graphite/epoxy specimens have a non-linear relation
between energy absorption and D/t [9]. An increase in energy absorption was observed in general
as D/t decreased, reaching as its limit the compressive yield strength of the material [10]. This
increase in energy absorbing ability is caused by the reduction in interlaminar cracking, which
reduces the characteristic damage length of the fibers. Thus, a minimum of bending occurs and
more of the strength of the material is realized.
These conclusions would indicate that the tube geometry should provide superior energy
absorption capability to the flat-plate geometry which has an infinite D/t. Because resistance to
bending is presumed to be the cause of the variance of energy absorbency to D/t, then a flat
plate that is stabilized by means of a fixture may reduce this observed difference in measured
energy absorbency. Researchers have shown that testing of flat-plates for energy absorption can
be accomplished when they are stabilized in a fixture [6, 7, 11]. Moreover, the simplicity of
the manufacture of the flat plate provides a low-cost alternative method to observe crushing
phenomenon. Under off-axis loading, flat-plates experience the same load across the crush plane
whereas a tube specimen experiences a varying load around its circumference.
It is desirable to be able to correlate test results from flat-plate specimens with tube specimens.
Although previous tests done with specimens manufactured from unidirectional graphite/epoxy
showed that the plates readily cracked along the edge constraints [7,12], the effect of the
constraint on the damage mechanisms occurring in Kevlar/epoxy specimens was undetermined.

2
To overcome these limitations, an experimental test program was conducted to first determine
the effect of the fixture by testing specimens with two different widths and then to compare
equivalent laminates tested as flat plates and tubes. The figure of merit for comparing energy
absorbed for a specific structure is the incremental energy absorbed divided by the instantaneous
mass consumed. Thus, the specific sustained crushing stress SSCS is defined as:
P 1l P
SSCS =  2Energy
V olume
= A1l
= A
(1)


where P is the average crushing load, A is the cross sectional area, and  is the density
of the material. The stacking sequence, (+45/–45/0/90)S , was used for the 49/CYCOM 919
Kevlar/epoxy laminates. This stacking sequence was chosen for similarity with previous studies.

Experimental Test Matrix

A total of 26 (+45/–45/0/90)S specimens with various geometries were manufactured from
49/CYCOM 919 Kevlar/epoxy bidirectional preimpregnated fabric. Of these, 20 were flat-plate
specimens and six were tubes. Of the flat plates, ten were machined to 165 mm 2 89 mm and ten
were machined to 165 mm 2 64 mm. The tubes were 102 mm in height with an inner diameter
of 114 mm. A steeple chamfer was machined into one end of each specimen to initiate damage.
A comparison is to be made first between flat-plate specimens of different widths. By
making this comparison, a SSCS per unit width and the energy associated with cracking along
the edges of the specimen at the constraints can be determined. Next, equivalent laminates with
two different geometries will be compared. Finally, the present testing method can be evaluated
for broader application by including data of graphite/epoxy specimens that were tested in the
same manner [12].

Manufacturing
The flat-plate specimens were machined from larger 305 mm 2 356 mm laminates with
a stacking sequence of (+45/–45/0/90)S . The laminates were made from 49/CYCOM 919
Kevlar/epoxy bidirectional cloth. The tube specimens were machined from two longer tubes
with an inner diameter of 114 mm. Tubes were laid up and cured on aluminum mandrels. The
manufacturer’s recommended cure cycle was followed for both the tubes and the laminates. It
consisted of 1 h at 121  C with a total pressure of 621 kPa.
The flat-plate laminates and the tubes were then machined into individual specimens. A
milling machine with a water-cooled diamond-grit cutting blade was used. From the three
plates, 20 flat-plate specimens were machined with one plate yielding six 165 mm 2 89 mm
specimens, another plate yielding eight 165 mm 2 64 mm specimens, and the third yielding
four 165 mm 2 89 mm specimens and two 165 mm 2 64 mm specimens. From the two tubes,
six tube specimens were cut to a nominal length of 102 mm. The edge of each of the flat-plate
specimens that was towards the original center of the laminate was chamfered. Also the tubes
were chamfered along edges that were originally internal. These internal edges were chosen to
initiate crushing in consistent regions of the specimens.

3
 To chamfer the flat-plate specimens, they were held in a fixture on a milling machine and a
two-flute titanium-nitride end mill was used to machine a steeple chamfer of approximately 34
as shown in Figure 1. At least two cutting passes were made per side with the tool to remove
the material. Additional passes were made until the peak of the steeple chamfers was deemed
acceptable. The end mill machined the Kevlar/epoxy without fraying the ends as commonly
occurs. To chamfer the tube specimens, they were held with a circular indexing head so that
their central axes were parallel to the milling machine table, as shown in Figure 2. Chamfering
was accomplished by positioning the tool to chamfer a certain thickness and then rotating the
composite tube around its central axis by rotating the cylindrical indexing head. Dimensional
variations in the tube specimens resulted in a less-precise machining of the chamfer than was
accomplished with the flat-plate specimens.
The length, width, thickness, and mass of the flat-plate specimens and the length, diameter,
thickness, and mass of the tube specimens were measured and averaged. These values were
used to determine the densities of the specimens. Measurements are provided in Table 1. The
low coefficients of variation (CVs) indicate the relative uniformity of the specimens.

Experimental Testing
All specimens were tested on a 220 kip hydraulic testing machine. The flat-plate specimens
were crushed using the fixture shown in Figures 3 and 4 [7]. This portion of the fixture in
Figure 3 is an extension of the hydraulic grip and allows for the testing of specimens of different
thicknesses with alteration of only the restraining plate. The edge constraints move with the
specimen eliminating that source of friction. One drawback of this fixture is that the specimen
must split along its length at the constraints provided by the guide rods as shown in the photograph
of tested flat-plate specimens (Figure 5). The ruler in the photograph is 152 mm long. The center
portion of the flat-plate specimen is crushed against the crush plane, illustrated in Figure 4, while
the edges are gripped by the support rods to stabilize the specimen and pass by both sides of
the crush plane. The crush plane is positioned between the bottom edge of the specimen and
the rod tip support plate while resting on the bottom portion of the test fixture.
The fixture was originally developed to crush flat specimens at an angle of incidence, ,
as shown in Figure 4. In the present test program, the load incidence angle is set to 0 . Two
separate fixtures were used, one for each specimen width. The fixture used for the 64-mm-wide
specimens was the same as that used in Reference 7. It has a gap of 38.1 mm between the edge
constraints. The fixture used for the 89-mm-wide specimens has a gap of 63.5 mm between the
edge constraints. The edge constraints are 12.7 mm diameter hardened steel. During the course
of testing, the four rods of the fixture for the testing of 89-mm-wide flat-plate specimens were
strain gaged to determine to what extent the axial load was being carried through the fixture.
The gages were oriented longitudinally midway along the length of the rods opposite the point
of contact with the specimen. The tubes were crushed between self-aligning platens. All of the
specimens were crushed at a constant stroke rate of 0.0635 mm/s. Load, stroke, and strain data
were recorded every 0.5 s using a computer data acquisition system.
During initial testing of the flat-plate specimens, cracking occurred along the constraints of
the test fixture and the sides of the crush plane. The Kevlar/epoxy flat-plate specimens were

4
resistant to tearing along the constraints and material bound between the support rods and along
the crush plane resulting in Euler buckling of the specimens. Because of the friction caused
by the binding, the measured load increased rapidly with stroke. To ease the tearing of the
specimen along the constraint rods and to prevent the specimen material from binding within
the test fixture, the specimens were altered. The flat-plate specimens were scored along the path
of desired tearing adjacent to the location of the constraint rods. Scores were machined into the
specimens with a jeweler’s blade of thickness 0.154 mm. Scores were machined into both sides
of the flat-plate specimens and their approximate locations are shown in Figure 6. The distance
between the score lines was set to the width of the crush plane. Eight of the 64-mm-wide
specimens and all 10 of the 89-mm-wide specimens were tested with scoring.
Specimens were scored to varying depths from 1/5 to 2/3 of the thickness of the plate. The
machining of the score lines was difficult because of variations in the thickness of the specimen.
The thickness varied by up to 0.25 mm as indicated by repeated positioning of the jeweler’s
blade to the surface of the specimen. An average zero was determined. Scoring and testing of
specimens was done sequentially. After each test was complete, the failure mode of the tested
specimen was assessed and, using this knowledge, the scoring depth of the next specimen was
adjusted as necessary.

Results and Discussion

The primary data obtained from a crushing test is the load versus stroke curve. A schematic
representation of such a curve for a composite material is shown in Figure 7 where three separate
regions are highlighted. The first region is the initial linear-elastic response of the structure
terminated by the initiation of damage. The peak load divided by the cross sectional area
provides the initiation stress. In the second region, damage spreads across the entire specimen
and transitions into the third region which is characterized by a sustained crushing load.
The load-stroke curves are inspected to determine the point at which the crushing had
transitioned into a sustained mode. The total energy absorbed from that point until the end of
the test or a chosen end point is then used to calculate the SSCS. For comparison purposes,
the instantaneous load is converted into a specific crushing stress (SCS) by dividing it by the
crushing area and the material density.
In the flat-plate specimens, a transition region could not be identified. Instead the flat-plate
specimens immediately began stable crushing, although the load extremes were much greater
than those seen in the tube specimens. For all flat-plate specimens, a stroke of 17.8 mm was
assumed to be the start of the sustained crushing region for the calculation of the SSCS. During
testing of the flat-plate specimens, the specimens would bow ahead of the point of crushing
of the specimen on the crush plane. At a stroke slightly greater then 50.8 mm, this bowing
curvature would approach the clamped condition of the gripped portion of the specimen. Thus,
the sustained crushing region was taken to end at 50.8 mm of stroke. An exception was made
for the first four flat-plate specimens. An endpoint of 38.1 mm was used to calculate the SSCS
because the total stroke of each of these tests was only slightly greater then 38.1 mm. The
SSCS was determined by numerically integrating the area beneath the load-stroke curve within
the sustained crushing region and then dividing this energy by the mass of the crushed volume

5
as prescribed by Equation 1. Table 2 includes the initiation stress and the SSCS of all the
specimens tested successfully. For each group of specimens the average is provided as well as
the coefficient of variation.
Three failure modes were exhibited by the flat-plate specimens, and they were a function
of scoring depth. One failure mode consisted of stable crushing with a constant amplitude
sinusoidal buckling evident. Score depths for those specimens were 0.36 mm for the 64-mm-
wide specimens and 0.53 mm for the 89-mm-wide specimens. After the load reached an initial
peak the specimen would bow out-of-plane above the crush plane. The chamfered edge against
the crush plane would begin to move out of plane in the opposite direction of the bow. This
response would be accompanied by slight “popping” sounds. As a buckle developed, the material
would begin to fold back over itself. This behavior would be accompanied by occasional loud
cracking noises and the appearance of white linear bands across the width of the specimen on
the crest of the buckle which indicated internal delaminations. Occasionally, outer plies would
delaminate along the width of the crest of the buckle. Then, the process of a new buckle
forming on the other side of the specimen would begin. Successive buckles would continue
to form resulting in the deformation shown in Figure 5. This failure mode is consistent with
descriptions of previous testing on Kevlar/epoxy 1 cone specimens [5]. The buckles of the
89-mm-wide flat-plate specimens were of larger amplitude and wavelength then the buckles of
the 64-mm-wide flat-plate specimens. This behavior can be seen by comparing the frequency of
the load-stroke curves for typical 64-mm-wide flat-plate and 89-mm-wide flat-plate specimens
in Figures 8 and 9, respectively.
Another failure mode consisted of the specimen buckling or bending exclusively to one side
during all or most of the test. This failure behavior was indicative of too great of a score depth
resulting in a loss of stability. This failure mode was only seen in the 89-mm-wide flat-plate
specimens and may indicate that the wider 89-mm specimens are less stable. Figure 10 shows
a photograph of a specimen which exhibited this type of failure mode.
The final failure mode consisted of the specimen exhibiting sinusoidal buckling, but with
binding of the specimen in the test fixture resulting in a rapidly climbing load. The specimen
would deform along the constraints and the material within the constraints that had been stroked
beyond the crush plane would bend towards the center of the plate. Figure 11 shows a photograph
showing both a 64-mm-wide flat-plate and a 89-mm-wide flat-plate specimen which experienced
this binding failure mode. This failure mode was also occasionally accompanied by buckling
along the constraints; these were most predominantly visible on 64-mm-wide flat-plate specimens.
Figure 12 shows a photograph illustrating the buckling of a 64-mm-wide flat-plate specimen.
This failure mode was indicative of a shallow score depth. A typical load-stroke plot for a flat-
plate specimen that experienced this binding failure mode is shown in Figure 13. The SSCS
depicted on the plot was calculated using the same sustained crushing region. Friction from the
test fixture at the crushing plane increases this measured value substantially. Thus, for this type
of failure mode, the SSCS value cannot be applied as a performance indication.
Evaluation of the strain gage data from the rods on the 89-mm-wide flat-plate test fixture
showed only minor strain in the top portion of the test fixture. The strain versus stroke plots
for typical tests with the bending, sinusoidal buckling, and specimen binding failure modes are

6
shown respectively in Figures 14, 15, and 16. The strain readings are greatest for the specimen
binding failure modes case and indicated that the specimen was pushing against the constraint
rods. This force resulted in a bending moment on the constraint rods. Loads applied by the
specimens to generate the maximum strains over the entire stroke for each failure mode are given
in Table 3. The loads were calculated by modeling the constraint rods as clamped-clamped beams
with a point loading acting normal to the constraint rods at the gage location. The loads indicated
are an order of magnitude less than the sustained crushing loads (about 6000N). This indicates
a low value of loading of the fixture during testing.
The effect of the score depth was substantial. A survey of SCS versus stroke curves is
shown in Figure 17. Different score depths from zero to 0.71 mm illustrate the variety of failure
mechanisms from binding to sustained crushing to bending. The effect on the measured SSCS
value corresponds to the failure mode as shown in Figure 18. The three failure modes were easily
identified and the specimens that exhibited either bending or binding within the test fixture are
excluded in further discussions. For the 64-mm-wide flat-plate specimens a total score depth of
approximately 1/2 of the specimen thickness (0.53 mm on each side) resulted in a successful test.
For the 89-mm-wide flat-plate specimens a total score depth of approximately 1/3 of the specimen
thickness (0.36 mm on each side) resulted in a successful test. The variation of failure modes in
the 89–mm-wide specimens at a score depth of approximately 0.36 mm is due to the difference
between the nominal score depth and the as-machined depth which could not be measured over
the entire specimen. Out of eight 64-mm-wide specimens, four were deemed to have failed in
an acceptable manner. Of the ten 89-mm-wide specimens, four were also deemed acceptable.
From the SSCS data presented in Table 2, the values for the 64-mm-wide and 89-mm-wide
flat-plate specimens are nearly equal. This would indicate that whatever the contribution of the
constraints is, it is small and can be neglected. This is only possible because of the dominant
crushing mechanism is maintained within the widths tested. Note also, that this similar behavior
is achieved only after effectively scoring the specimens to facilitate the fracture at the constraints.
The crushing failure of the 114-mm-diameter tube specimens was consistent with that of
the flat-plate specimens that failed in the preferred failure mode. Sinusoidal buckling failure
modes were exhibited around the circumference. Figure 19 shows a photograph of a typical
crushed tube specimen showing sinusoidal buckling. The width of the buckles was generally
a small fraction of the total circumference and the buckles were generally not in phase. Thus,
the SCS versus stroke plot shown in Figure 20 does not exhibit the same sinusoidal pattern
evident in the successfully tested flat-plate specimens. Instead, during steady crushing the load
fluctuation is small.
Comparison of the SSCS for the flat-plate and tube specimens is made in Table 4. Also
shown are SSCS values for previously tested graphite/epoxy specimens of the same geometry
from Reference 12. The flat-plate and tube SSCS values for the Kevlar/epoxy specimens are
within 2% of each other, while the graphite/epoxy specimens are within 10% of each other.
Although the SSCS is reported to be a function of D/t for both graphite/epoxy and Kevlar/epoxy
laminates [9], the effect in the Kevlar/epoxy specimens appears to be minimal. The corresponding
D/t ratios are 52.7 and 47.4 for the Kevlar/epoxy and graphite/epoxy specimens.
Another comparison can be made with previous work done by Knack [5]. Knack tested 1

7
tapered Kevlar/epoxy cones of stacking sequence [+45/-45/0]S manufactured from preimpreg-
nated tape. Tested at a load inclination of 0 , the SSCS values averaged 40.5 kN-m/kg. This
value is almost 20% greater then the value obtained for the tubes of the present study. The
difference in the SSCS values between the two studies can be attributed to layup differences
and thickness effects. One-third of the cone laminates were 0 plies, while one-fourth of the
tube laminates were 0 plies. The greater percentage of the 0 plies in the cones helps account
for the differences in SSCS between the two studies. Also, as noted in Reference 6, the SSCS
values decreased 10–25% for graphite-Kevlar plate specimens when thicknesses were scaled by
a factor of two. The Knack Kevlar/epoxy specimens consisted of six plies of preimpregnated
tape, while the present specimens consisted of eight plies of preimpregnated cloth. The Knack
specimens were substantially thinner than those of the present study. Therefore, if the scaling
results for the graphite-Kevlar plates holds true for the Kevlar/epoxy tubes and cones of the
present and Knack’s study, then the differences in SSCS values can be partially explained by
the differences in thicknesses of the laminates.

Conclusions
Flat-plate and tube specimens manufactured of Kevlar/epoxy preimpregnated fabric with
equivalent layup and thickness were quasi-statically crushed. The energy absorbency of the
specimens were measured and compared. In addition, the present data were compared with
existing data. Based on the experimental observations and the comparisons among the data
groups the following conclusions can be made.
1. Testing of flat-plate Kevlar/epoxy laminates with the present fixture is possible in spite of
the material being resistant to tearing at the crushing plane.

2. Three distinct failure modes in the Kevlar/epoxy flat-plate specimens are observed: stable
sinusoidal buckling, binding of specimens with test fixture because of shallow scoring, and
bending of specimens to one side because of deep scoring. The failure modes are easily
distinguishable from each other both visually and via the load versus stroke curves. Only
sinusoidal buckling is deemed to be indicative of a stable crushing failure mechanism.

3. For the 64-mm-wide flat plate, a score depth of approximately 1/2 of the specimen thickness
leads to a successful test. For the 89-mm-wide flat plate, a score depth of approximately 1/3
of the specimen thickness leads to a successful test for this layup.

4. The load applied to the fixture by the specimen during the testing is much less than the
measured crush loads.

5. The specific sustained crushing stress for Kevlar/epoxy flat plates with a layup of
(+45/–45/0/90)S is not affected by the width of the plate using the present fixture.

6. Flat-plate and tube geometry SSCS values are similar for the present data. Because the
material represents a testing challenge, this result indicates the capability of the present
fixture to determine the energy absorption capability of composite materials.

8
 The ability to test Kevlar/epoxy composite laminates consisting of fabric laminae with a
flat-plate specimen has been shown utilizing the present fixture. Binding between the specimen
and the test fixture can be eliminated for this test fixture by scoring the flat-plate specimens
along the constraint rods. Comparable SSCS values for the flat-plate and tube specimens were
found. The flat-plate specimen is a capable, cost-effective alternative to the tube geometry for
testing the energy absorbing capabilities of composite laminates.

Acknowledgments

The material used in this study was graciously provided by Dr. Steven Peake of CYTEC.
The authors wish to thank Mr. James S. Harris for his help in this effort.

References
1. Sen, J. and Dremann, C., “Design Development Tests for Composite crashworthy Helicopter
Fuselage,” SAMPE Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 1, Oct. 1985, pp. 29-39.

2. Fleming, D. and Vizzini, A., “Tapered Geometries for Improved Crashworthiness under Side
Loads,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 17, No. 1, Jan. 1993, pp. 38-44.

3. Farley, G., “Energy Absorption of Composite Materials,” Journal of Composite Materials,

Vol. 17, No. 5, May 1983, pp. 267-279.

4. Hull, D., “A Unified Approach to Progressive Crushing of Fibre-Reinforced Composite

Tubes,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 40, 1991, pp. 377–421, .

5. Knack, J. and Vizzini, A., “Energy Absorption of Truncated Kevlar Epoxy Cones Under Side
Loads,” Proceedings of the 35th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynam-
ics and Materials Conference, Hilton Head, South Carolina, Apr. 1994, pp. 2831–2837.

6. Jackson, K., Morton, J., Lavoie, J., and Boitnott, R., “Scaling of Energy Absorbing
Composite Plates,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 39, No. 1, Jan. 1994
pp. 17–23.

7. Fleming, D. and Vizzini, A., “The Energy Absorption of Composite Plates under Off-Axis
Loads,” Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 30, No. 18, 1996, pp. 1977–1995.

8. Thornton, P. and Edwards, P., “Energy Absorption in Composite Tubes,” Journal of Com-
posite Materials, Vol. 16, No. 11, Nov. 1982, pp. 521–545.

9. Farley, G., “Effect of Specimen Geometry on the Energy Absorption Capability of Composite
Materials,” Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 20, No. 7, July 1986, pp. 390-400.

10. Farley, G., “Energy Absorption of Composite Material and Structure,” Proceedings of the
AHS 43rd Annual Forum, St. Louis Missouri, May 1987, pp. 613–627.

9
11. Lavoie, J. and Morton, J., “A Crush Test Fixture for Investigating Energy Absorption of Flat
Composite Plates,” Experimental Techniques, Nov./Dec. 1994, pp. 23-26.

12. Dubey, D. and Vizzini, A., “Energy Absorption of Composite Tubes and Plates,” Journal of
Composite Materials, Vol. 32, No. 2, 1998, pp. 158-176.

10
 Grinder or Cutter held in Mill

Composite Specimen
34°

900-1500
RPM Aluminum Guide Plates

Clamp Fixtured on Mill

17°

Figure 1 Chamfering of flat-plate specimens

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–1

 Circular Indexing Head
Fixtured on Mill

Grinder or Cutter held in Mill

34°

114 mm
17°

Aluminum Mandrel
Composite Specimen

Figure 2 Schematic section of chamfering of tube specimens

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–2

 Subassembly 1

Holes for attachment

of gripping fixture
to testing machine grips

Composite
specimen

Rod tip
support plate

Figure 3 Gripping portion of crushing fixture

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–3

 Crushing
Plane
φ

Spacers

Figure 4 Incline feature of crushing fixture

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–4

 Figure 5 Photograph of crushed flat plate specimens

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–5

 70 mm
Grip Scoring
Inserts
165 mm

Support Steeple
Rods Chamfer

38.1 or 63.5 mm

Figure 6 Use of scoring to ease tearing

of specimen along support rods

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–6

 Damage Initiation

Load Linear Elastic (1)

Crushing (3)
Transition (2)
0
0
Stroke

Figure 7 Schematic representation of a crushing test

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–7

 100
SSCS = 35.7 kN-m/kg
SCS, kN-m/kg

50

0
0 25 50
Stroke, mm

Figure 8 Typical specific crushing stress (SCS) versus

stroke for 64 mm flat plate (preferred failure mode)

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–8

 100
SSCS = 31.5 kN-m/kg
SCS, kN-m/kg

50

0
0 25 50
Stroke, mm

Figure 9 Typical specific crushing stress (SCS) versus

stroke for 89 mm flat plate (preferred failure mode)

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–9

 Vise

Specimen

Figure 10 Photograph of crushed 89–mm-wide

flat-plate specimen (bending to one side failure mode)

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–10

 Figure 11 Photograph of crushed 64–mm-wide flat-plate and
89–mm-wde flat-plate specimens (binding failure mode)

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–11

 buckling

Figure 12 Photograph of crushed 64–mm-wide flat-plate

specimen (binding failure mode) exhibiting buckling

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–12

 100
SSCS = 52.1 kN-m/kg
SCS, kN-m/kg

50

0
0 25 50
Stroke, mm

Figure 13 Typical specific crushing stress (SCS) versus stroke

for 89–mm-wide flat-plate exhibiting a binding failure mode

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–13

 400

300
Strain, mstrain
200

100

-100
0 20 40 60
Stroke, mm

Figure 14 Typical fixture strain versus

stroke for bending failure mode

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–14

 800

600
Strain, mstrain
400

200

0
0 20 40 60
Stroke, mm

Figure 15 Typical fixture strain versus

stroke for sinusoidal buckling failure mode

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–15

 2000

1500
Strain, mstrain

1000

500

0
0 20 40 60
Stroke, mm

Figure 16 Typical fixture strain versus

stroke for binding failure mode

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–16

 100 100

50 50

SCS, kN-m/kg No Score 0.36 mm

0 0
0 25 50 0 25 50

100 100
0.53 mm 0.71 mm

50 50

0 0
0 25 50 0 25 50

Stroke, mm

Figure 17 The effect of score depth on the

load stroke behavior (64-mm-wide specimens)

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–17

 100
64 mm
80 89 mm
SSCS, kN-m/kg
60
Binding
40
Valid
20
Bending
0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6
Score Depth, mm

Figure 18 SSCS and failure mode versus score depth

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–18

 Figure 19 Photograph of crushed tube

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–19

 100
SSCS = 33.5 kN-m/kg
SCS, kN-m/kg

50

0
0 25 50
Stroke, mm

Figure 20 Typical specific crushing stress (SCS)

versus stroke for 114 mm diameter tube

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–20

 Table 1 Kevlar/epoxy Average Measurements
Thickness, Length, Width, Inner Density,
mm mm mm Diameter, mm g/cc
(CV) (CV) (CV) (CV) (CV)
63.9
64-mm-wide
2.11 165.6 (0.1%) 1.41
—
(1.8%) (0.2%) 89.3 (0.4%)
89-mm-wide
(0.0%)
2.16 101.9 113.8 1.43
114 mm tube —
(1.2%) (0.6%) (0.1%) (1.3%)

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–21

 Table 2 Initiation and Energy Absorption
Geometry Initiation Stress [MPa] SSCS [kN-m/kg]
75.3 29.1
Flat Plate 81.6 35.7
64 mm 83.7 37.9
87.0 34.7
Average 81.9 34.3
(CV) (6.0%) (10.8%)
61.3 33.4
Flat Plate 70.6 31.5
89 mm 66.8 34.4
66.0 33.6
Average 66.2 33.2
(CV) (5.7%) (3.8%)
83.2 36.0
79.9 34.1
Tubes 77.9 35.7
114 mm 90.6 33.5
84.0 34.7
86.2 32.4
Average 83.6 34.4
(CV) (5.4%) (3.9%)

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–22

 Table 3 Loads exerted by the specimens on the bending rods
Failure Mode Maximum Strain, strain Load, N
Bending 313 97.7
Sinusoidal Buckling 788 246.3
Binding 1850 578.6

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–23

 Table 4 Overall Comparison of SSCS
Flat-Plates [kN-m/kg] Tubes [kN-m/kg]
(CV) (CV)
Present 33.8 34.4
Kevlar/epoxy (7.8%) (3.9%)
Previous
77.6 86.0
graphite/epoxy
(16.1%) (2.1%)
Reference 12

Dubey & Vizzini Testing Methods JAHS–24