Low velocity flexural impact behaviors of bamboo fiber reinforced composite beams

Abstract

To investigate the anti-impact behavior and loading rate sensitivity of bamboo fiber reinforced composite (BFRC) beams, low-velocity-impact flexural experiments were performed under impact velocity changing from 2 m/s to 10 m/s. Quasi-static flexural tests were carried out under the same conditions to supply a quasi-static reference to the dynamic performance. Velocity-dependent effects of the impact force, the velocity, the impulse, the displacement and the absorbed energy were revealed by the weight-dropping experiments. The impact force, the energy absorption and the impact toughness increase nearly linearly to the impact velocity. These rate sensitivities of the BFRC beam were expressed quantitively by linear fitting equations, providing a basis to design shock and explosion resistant BFRC structures.

Keywords

• Bamboo fiber reinforced composite
• Rate effects
• Low-velocity impact