Title: Design for vehicle crashworthiness using multibody dynamics

Authors: J.P. Dias, M.S. Pereira

Addresses: IDMEC - Instituto de Mecanica - Instituto Superior Tecnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1096 Lisboa CODEX, Portugal. ' IDMEC - Instituto de Mecanica - Instituto Superior Tecnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1096 Lisboa CODEX, Portugal

Abstract: This paper describes a methodology for the sensitivity analysis and optimization of planar constrained mechanical systems. Direct differentiation methods and finite difference techniques have been used in the design sensitivity calculations. The optimization process is developed within the framework of mathematical programming techniques. The sensitivity equations were constructed symbolically, subsequently integrated in the dynamic analysis equations of motion and solved simultaneously. Some examples are solved to demonstrate the use of the methodology including a crashworthiness design problem, where a plastic hinge concept has been used to model plastic deformations of the vehicle structure during the impact.

Keywords: crashworthiness; impact optimisation; large plastic deformation; mathematical programming; multibody systems dynamics; multibody dynamics; vehicle design; sensitivity analysis; direct differentiation; finite difference; plastic hinge; dynamic modelling; vehicle structure; vehicle safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1994.061896

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1994 Vol.15 No.6, pp.563 - 577

Published online: 28 May 2014 *

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