A Study on the Effect of Filler Particle Size and Various Combinations on the Crashworthiness of Square Thin-Walled Structures made of Epoxy/Silica Composites

In this paper, the crashworthiness of thin-walled columns made of epoxy/silica composite was investigated. Two size of silica nanoparticles, nominally 17 and 65 nm in diameter, were used. Nanosilica particles were dispersed almost homogenously in the epoxy resin up to 4.5 wt.% in three series of composite. First series of composites reinforced by particles with 17 nm in diameter, second series of composites reinforced by particles with 65 nm in diameter and finally, third series of composites reinforced by combination of both. All specimens were tested under quasi static loading using a servohydraulic instron machine. A scanning electron microscopy was used for fracture surface studies. The results show that the crash worthiness was decreased by the addition of the nanoparticles, and structures were collapsed under unstable and catastrophic mode. Also, it was observed that the particle size didn’t have remarkable effect on the energy absorption capability and use of both of these particles in a composite showed a little synergy effect.