Title: Design rules for structural safety of passenger-car bodies

Authors: H. Gotz, W. Schwede, M. Muller

Addresses: Daimler-Benz AG, Body Development Division, 7032 Sindelfingen, Federal Republic of Germany. ' Daimler-Benz AG, Body Development Division, 7032 Sindelfingen, Federal Republic of Germany. ' Daimler-Benz AG, Body Development Division, 7032 Sindelfingen, Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract: Body-shell design for passenger cars must, from the point of view of safety, take into consideration safety in accidents, stress-relieving safety and operational reliability. With the new Mercedes-Benz 190 as an example, it is shown how a satisfactory solution can be found to satisfy conflicting aims by means of innovative design measures and other details, as well as by using high-strength steel. Safety and light-weight construction can then be quite feasibly combined.

Keywords: accident analysis; body-shell structure; external safety; frontal impact; lateral impact; operational reliability; rear impact; rollover; stress-relieving safety; vehicle safety; Mercedes-Benz; lightweight construction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1986.061167

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1986 Vol.7 No.5/6, pp.95 - 112

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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