Thermomechanical properties and failure mode evolution of sandwich composite tubes fabricated with thermal expansion molding process

This study systematically investigates the crushing performance and energy absorption parameters of CFRP sandwich composite pipes manufactured using the thermally expanded molding process. Axial and lateral crushing tests were conducted on CFRP composite pipes under different temperature conditions. The experimental results indicate that the load-displacement behavior, failure modes, and energy absorption performance of the CFRP composite pipes undergo significant changes near the T _g . Additionally, the evolution of the failure modes of CFRP composite pipes at elevated temperatures was focused on, and the combined effects of temperature and loading direction on their crushing performance were discussed. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of temperature on the structural performance of CFRP composite pipes and offers guidance for optimizing their design and improving their reliability during automotive service.