Design of Novel Energy-Absorbing Composites for Impact-Resistant Transportation and Defense Applications

Layam, Kiana-Karla; Saladino, Joseph; Boisvert, Matthew; Ruddat, Mark

Student Work

Design of Novel Energy-Absorbing Composites for Impact-Resistant Transportation and Defense Applications

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Vehicle weight reduction is essential to increasing energy efficiency in transportation and defense sectors, where a 10% weight decrease can lower fuel consumption by 5-8%. Composites present promising opportunities for achieving this goal through the synergistic interaction of dissimilar materials and the ability to design unique architectures. This project developed novel, lightweight, impact-absorbing composites that exhibit squeeze-flow strengthening by infiltrating aluminum alloy foams with various viscoplastic and viscoelastic fluids. Quasi-static and dynamic tests were performed using conventional compression and a custom-built impact test rig equipped with a high-speed camera and force sensors to study composite deformation modes and measure energy absorption. These data were used to optimize the composite geometry, material selection, and foam-fluid ratio for increased specific energy absorption. The novel composites perform better than the control materials and will contribute to concurrent improvements in vehicle weight reduction and occupant/cargo protection, achieving a more fuel-efficient and safe future of transportation.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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