Title: Maximisation of crash energy absorption by crash trigger for vehicle front frame using the homogenisation method

Authors: Yong-Bum Cho, Chul-Ho Bae, Myung-Won Suh, Hyo-Chol Sin

Addresses: TNO Automotive Korea Ltd., LG Twintel 2 157-3, Samsung-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-880, South Korea. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 300 Chunchun-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 300 Chunchun-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea. ' Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, 56-1, Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, South Korea

Abstract: The crash energy absorption for frontal impact of a vehicle front frame has unsymmetrical shape due to the design layout constraints of the engine room was maximised to change bending mode to axial crush mode using simple crash trigger. The proper location decision of crash trigger induced axial crushing were applied the homogenisation method. The low strained elements became the hole-type crash trigger. The effective optimum sizes of crash trigger were studied according to impact velocity, ratio of thickness to width (t/b) and aspect ratio (a/b) of frame. The optimisation results of the dynamic crushing load were compared with those from the theoretical equations.

Keywords: crashworthiness; homogenisation; vehicle structure optimisation; crash trigger; simplified design; thickness to width ratio; aspect ratio; crash energy absorption; vehicle front frame; frontal impact; design layout constraints; vehicle design; axial crushing; impact velocity; dynamic crushing load.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2008.017068

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2008 Vol.46 No.1, pp.23 - 50

Published online: 06 Feb 2008 *

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