Abstract
Nano-filled composites can be used as energy dissipating members in vehicles owing to their substantial features such as low weight, improved stiffness, excellent fracture toughness, and exceptional energy absorption capability. The recent research explores the impact of the inclusion of montmorillonite clay (MMT) on the crushing performance of glass (G)/epoxy composite tubes. Specimens filled with 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 wt. % of MMT was manufactured via wet-wrapping process and tested under uniaxial quasi-static loading. Crush load-displacement curves, initial failure load (P-ip), average load (P-avg), energy absorption (U), specific energy absorption (SEA), and crushing force efficiency (CFE), were computed for the prepared composites. Results revealed that specimens' failure modes and energy absorption capability (EAC) are considerably controlled by wt. % of MMT. Incorporation of MMT extremely enriches EAC of G-fiber/epoxy composites. As compared to pristine glass/epoxy composites, an improvement of 5.14, 17.32, 39.87, and 51.86 % in P-ip, 11.82, 92.28, 186.54 and 258.46 % in P-avg, and 22.30, 84.16, 223.26, and 6.88, 64.70, 105.85, and 129.34 % in CFE was achieved by the inclusion of 1, 2, 3 and 4 wt. % of MMT, respectively. Also, the incorporation of 1, 2, 3 and 4 wt. % of MMT gives an enrichment of 22.30, 84.16, 223.26, and 303.66 % in U and 13.22, 80.17, 157.57, and 225.74 % in SEA, respectively. Glass/epoxy composites filled with 4 wt. % of MMT have the best load carrying and EAC of 31.04 kN and 1034.13 J, respectively. Specimens with 4 wt. % of MMT are the best choice for energy absorbing elements. Generally, G-fiber/epoxy composite elements filled with MMT show exceptional EAC.