Improving safety performance in frontal collisions by changing the shape of structural components

Giess, Michael; Tomas, Josef

Affiliations

¹The Sir Lawrence Wackett Centre for Aerospace Design Technology, RMIT

²Advea Engineering Pty Ltd, Australia

Abstract

The design optimisation of vehicle structures for improved crashworthiness is very much a trial and error process. A method of structural optimisation is described which is a more formal and systematic approach to design improvement. The method is implemented into an existing optimisation program and is used to improve the response of structural components within a vehicle by changing their shape. A sensitivity analysis based on the elastic buckling response of a structural component drives shape changes in the optimisation process.

The program is applied to improving the crashworthiness of a box section member. The optimised component shows a substantial increase of the initial collapse load and energy absorbing capacity. Results from dynamic simulations confirm this.

Links

URL: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv16/98s1o07.pdf

Cited Works (2)

Year	Entry
1996	Witteman WJ, Kriens RFC. A cable-supported frontal car structure for offset crash situations. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.558-566.
1996	Satoh T, Takada K. Collapse and energy absorption of thin-walled frame with polygonal section. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.518-524.