Experimental and Numerical Impact Analysis of Automotive Bumper Brackets Made of 2D Triaxially Braided CFRP Composites

The impact behavior of carbon fiber epoxy bumper brackets reinforced with 2D biaxial and 2D triaxial braids was experimentally and numerically analyzed. For this purpose, a phenomenological damage model was modified and implemented as a user material in ABAQUS. It was hypothesized that all input parameters could be determined from a suitable high-speed test program. Therefore, novel impact test device was designed, developed and integrated into a drop tower. Drop tower tests with different impactor masses and impact velocities at different bumper bracket configurations were conducted to compare the numerically predicted deformation and damage behavior with experimental evidence. Good correlations between simulations and tests were found, both for the global structural deformation, including fracture, and local damage entities in the impact zone. It was proven that the developed phenomenological damage models can be fully applied for present-day industrial problems.