The Application of Optimization Techniques to Problems of Automotive Crashworthiness 770608
A method for automating the selection of front-end structural stiffnesses for barrier impact standards is presented. Presently the standard analysis tool is the impact simulation method in which static nonlinear force-deformation curves of components are used in a computer integration of the equations of motion. Current design methods involve manually modifying the force-deformation curves to produce an acceptable design. This process may be significantly improved by the use of optimization methods.
An improved impact simulation model which calculates the steering column envelopment is introduced. To express the effect of passenger compartment deceleration on potential injury, a vehicle crash severity index is introduced and is shown to be positively correlated with potential injury based on the chest severity index. An optimization technique is used to find a set of design variables which will satisfy constraints placed on the above measures of crashworthiness; namely, the steering column envelopment and the vehicle crash severity index. The shape similarity of force-deformation curves from car to car for a given component suggests the use of a scale factor on the curves as a design variable.
Citation: Bennett, J., Lin, K., and Nelson, M., "The Application of Optimization Techniques to Problems of Automotive Crashworthiness," SAE Technical Paper 770608, 1977, https://doi.org/10.4271/770608. Download Citation
Author(s):
James A. Bennett, Kuang-Huei Lin, Mark F. Nelson
Affiliated:
Research Labs, General Motors Corp.
Pages: 8
Event:
2nd International Conference on Vehicle Structural Mechanics
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
SAE 1977 Transactions-V86-A
Related Topics:
Simulation and modeling
Passenger compartments
Crashworthiness
Optimization
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