Effect of testing speed on energy absorption in CF / PEEK tubes

Compression tests on CF/PEEK tubes were performed using a MTS servo-hydraulic material testing machine and a crush testing machine to clarify the mechanism of the initial failure process and the characteristic of the energy absorption. It was found that all the specimens were fractured in a progressive crushing mode and the specific energy absorption indicated the dependence of testing speed in the range of our study. Morphological observation was conducted to examine the influence of testing speed on the specific energy absorption. The mechanism in the steady state stage which takes place after the maximum load is characterized by the interlaminar cracks and lamina breakage at the crush zone. In the initial failure process, the formation mechanism of the debris wedge was examined through the step-wise morphology analysis. The angle and the dimension of the debris wedge were the essential factors in the specific energy absorption.