ttp://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET 3015 editor@iaeme.com h International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET) Volume 11, Issue 12, December 2020, pp. 3015-3025, Article ID: IJARET_11_12_283 Available online at ttp://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=11&Issue=12 h Journal Impact Factor (2020): 10.9475 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com ISSN Print: 0976-6480 and ISSN Online: 0976-6499 DOI 10.34218/IJARET.11.12.2020.283 : © IAEME Publication Indexed Scopus THE EFFECT OF TUBE LENGTH IN CRASHWORTHINESS BEHAVIOUR OF REINFORCED BOMBYX MORI/EPOXY COMPOSITE CYLINDRICAL TUBES A.U. Ude* Department of Mechanical, Energy and Industrial System Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private Bag 16 Palapye, Botswana C.H. Azhari Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The National University of Malaysia, UKM, 43600 Bangi, Malaysia Rozli Zulkifli Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The National University of Malaysia, UKM, 43600 Bangi, Malaysia *Corresponding Author ABSTRACT This study explored the load carrying, and energy absorption capability response of Bombyx mori (B.mori)/Epoxy composite cylindrical tubes subjected to axial quasi- static crushing test. Mandrel assisted hand lay-up process was used in preparing the composite tube specimens. Twelve (12) layers of Epoxy pre-preg B.mori silk fibres were used in fabricating the composite tube. The tube was later cut into varied lengths of 50mm, 80mm and 120mm to investigate the effect of length to the crashworthiness of B.mori composite cylindrical tube. Crashworthiness was analyzed by measuring peak load, specific and total energy absorption as a function of tube length under an axially compressive load. Failure fragmentations of the tubes were analyzed from a high resolution photographs obtained during the experimental tests. Generally the results obtained showed that 50mm tube length exhibited the best crashworthiness behaviour, showing progressive twist crushing failure of the tube. While 80mmand 120mm tube lengths specimens displayed a mid-length fracture of their tubes, this behaviour led to encapsulations of their top-halves into their lower halves. The mechanism of failure implies that micro to macro cracks initiated due constant compressive load, was the predominant source of failure, and leading to delamination of laminates as well as tears and fibre breakages.