The cross-sectional configuration is one of the factors influencing the energy absorption performance of composite tubes under axial compression. Flat sides and corners are basic elements for the configuration. However, their contributions to the energy absorption have not been systematically compared. This paper presents a “press and cut” approach which allows to investigate the energy absorption of flat side and corner elements in a condition closely resembling axial crushing of a tube. Using this method, the crushing responses and energy absorption behaviors of flat side and corner elements in carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) square tube under axial quasi-static compression were investigated experimentally. The results showed that the corner elements had higher specific energy absorption ($SEA$) values than the flat side elements. The higher $SEA$ value is attributed to the additional axial tearing fracture of the fronds developed at the corner and the suppression to delamination by the hoop tension force in the round corner. A modified analytical model based on Hussein’s analytical model was established to predict the mean crushing force of the flat side and corner elements. Finally, axial crushing experiments were performed for CFRP tubes with a cross section consisting 12 corners. The 12-corner tubes exhibited an about 18% higher $SEA$ value than the square tubes while maintaining a similar peak force.

截面构型是影响复合管轴向受压吸能性能的因素之一。平坦的边和角是配置的基本元素。然而，尚未系统地比较它们对能量吸收的贡献。本文提出了一种“压切”方法，该方法允许研究在非常类似于管子轴向挤压的条件下平面和角部元件的能量吸收。使用该方法，对轴向准静态压缩下碳纤维增强塑料（CFRP）方管中平边和角单元的挤压响应和吸能行为进行了实验研究。结果表明，角单元具有较高的比能量吸收（$秒乙\mathrm{一种}$) 值比平面元素。越高$秒乙\mathrm{一种}$值归因于在拐角处产生的叶状体的附加轴向撕裂断裂以及圆角处环向张力对分层的抑制。建立了基于侯赛因分析模型的改进分析模型，以预测平边和角单元的平均破碎力。最后，对横截面由 12 个角组成的 CFRP 管进行轴向挤压实验。12 角管的表现要高出约 18%$秒乙\mathrm{一种}$ 值比方管，同时保持相似的峰值力。