Collapse loading and energy absorption of fiber-reinforced conical shells

Background/Purpose: An analytical solution is presented to predict the mean axial collapse forces of fiber reinforced conical shells under thermal loading, in which the fibers wrapped orientation is arbitrary; Methods: Analytical method and finite element simulate; Results: The influences of thermal loading, fibers wrapped orientations, geometrical eccentricity factor and proportionality coefficient on the axial collapse force of fiber reinforced conical shells are given. Conclusion: The collapse loading Pm of fiber-reinforced conical shells appears in the maximum value under different thermal environment when the fibers wrapped direction equals 45 degrees. By optimizing the wrapping orientation of fiber layers, the capability of energy absorption of fiber-reinforced conical shells can be enhanced. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.