Theoretical analysis on CFRP/Al hybrid multi-cell tubes under axial crushing loading

The CFRP/Al hybrid multi-cell tubes have an excellent energy absorption performance under axial crushing loading. This paper creatively proposes a theoretical analysis model to predict the mean crushing force of hybrid multi-cell tubes and studies the effects of the number of cells on the deformation mode of CFRP/Al hybrid multi -cell tubes. The accuracy of theoretical model is verified by experimental results. Theoretical analysis results show that the bending energy and membrane energy of metal, and friction energy of CFRP are the major energy absorption mechanisms for hybrid multi-cell tubes. The decreases of half-wave length and the increase of membrane force is the main reason that the hybrid multi-cell tube is more prone to deformed in mixed mode than the hybrid square tubes. The proposed theoretical model can quickly predict the mean crushing force and energy dissipated by each mechanism when the CFRP and metal's material and geometric parameters are given.