The mechanical characteristics of an aluminum foam winding CFRP composite structure under axial compression

To enhance the energy absorption properties of the energy-absorbing structure, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRPs) with higher specific energy absorption and porous material aluminum foam with better compressive characteristics were organically combined, and a lighter aluminum foam winding carbon fiber-reinforced polymer structure (CFRP-FA-FW) was designed. Through quasi-static compression testing, the deformation mode and energy absorption properties of CFRP-FA-FW under axial load were examined. The energy absorption and specific energy absorption of CFRP-FA-FW are both increased by 113.55 % and 60.73 %, respectively, compared to the simple composite structure CFRP-FA. Finite element simulation was used for the parametric analysis of the CFRP-FA-FW structure to assess the effects of the relative density of the aluminum foam, the fiber lay-up angle, and the thickness. The results reveal that the change in the relative density of aluminum foam has little impact on the failure deformation mode of CFRP-FA-FW under axial load; the structure has a higher energy absorption capacity and a smoother energy absorption process when the fiber lay-up angle is [0°/90°]_ns and [45°]_ns; the energy absorption capacity of CFRP-FA-FW is significantly improved by increasing the thickness of the carbon fiber lay-up, and the procedure is also more efficient.