Crashworthiness of Microvascular Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Abstract

Microchannels can provide fiber-reinforced composites with many functions such as self-healing and thermal management. However, microchannels have the potential to disrupt composite structural integrity. Here we demonstrate for the first time that microchannels can be incorporated in a carbon fiber composite without decreasing crashworthiness. Corrugated panels were manufactured containing 400 μm microchannels at a channel volume fraction of 5%. Channels were sequestered within non-load-bearing plies to reduce their impact on mechanical properties. Compression tests using a chamfer damage trigger revealed no loss in specific energy absorbed (SEA) for vascular panels vs. controls. Non-chamfered bars were also tested to demonstrate that channels can actually enhance crashworthiness by triggering stable failure. Control bars buckled when compressed while vascular samples had stable failure initiated at the channels.