Characteristics of bending according to stacking sequence for hybrid circular members

Works on the absorption of collision energy in the structural members are carried out widely with various material and cross-sections. And, with ever increasing safety concerns, they are presently applied in various fields including railroad trains, air crafts and automobiles. In addition to this, problem of lighting structural members became important subject by control of exhaust gas emission, fuel economy and energy efficiency. In this study, the characteristics of bending of light-weight structural member were analyzed. The hybrid circular member was manufactured by wrapping CFRP prepreg sheet outside the aluminum circular member in autoclave. Because the CFRP is an anisotropic material whose mechanical properties change with its fiber orientation angle, special attention was given to the effects of the fiber orientation angle on the bending characteristics of the hybrid member. For comparing bending characteristics of the hybrid member with those of pure aluminum and CFRP member, tests were performed for aluminum, CFRP and hybrid member, respectively.