Flexural testing of carbon FLP composite bars with annular and square cross section

Decrease of vehicle emissions require design changes already at the initial concept design. Use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in design cause reduction of weight with increasing other properties. Paper presents the case study of proposal material for frame concept of special light vehicle design. The flexural test (basically three-point bending test) of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite bars with annular and square cross section is presented. Experimental results were verified by numerical simulation finite element method (FEM). The permanent deformation of bar with annular cross section occurred at a force 2 280 N with deflection 4.22 mm. Model numerical simulation by FEM show same course of loading. For bar with square cross section the deformation occurred at a force 2 264 N, with deflection 7 mm. Model numerical simulation by FEM show different trend (under force 2264 N the deflection was 3.4 mm). The research was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract no. APVV-18-0457, Special Light Electric Vehicle from Unconventional Materials to Heavy Conditions and Terrain - LEV.