Title: Application of rigid polyurethane foam to the energy-absorbing steering column

Authors: T. Kurauchi

Addresses: Toyota Central Research & Development Laboratories, Nagakute, Japan

Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foam has shown a remarkable ability to absorb energy under compressive load. This foam has been applied to the automobile steering column by forming it into a cylindrical shape and placing it inside the outer pipe of the column. A conical indenter, with a diameter larger than the minimum diameter of the foam body, is fixed to the end of the inner pipe, and it acts to compress the foam towards the inner wall. This provides the steering column with an excellent impact absorbability, which fully satisfies the US Motor Vehicle Safety Standard MVSS203.

Keywords: energy absorbing steering column; rigid polyurethane foam; vehicle safety; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1987.061352

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1987 Vol.8 No.2, pp.221 - 229

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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