Abstract
In this study, a simplified, parametric vehicle front structure was proposed to represent the real vehicle when impacted with full-scale finite element pedestrian human body model (HBM). To capture the real impact responses of human lower limbs, the real vehicle energy-absorbing structures were modeled using distributed beam elements and deformable shell elements to replicate the contact characteristics between vehicle and HBM. An investigation of vehicle front-end profile characteristics in worldwide popular sedan models was conducted to determine the ranges of geometry variables. A local stiffness measurement approach is also proposed. The simplified model is further validated using a detailed sedan model, and the impact responses of HBM in the two simulations correlate quite well with each other. Therefore it can be further used in the DOE study or optimization work in the vehicle front structure design for pedestrian lower limb impact protection.
F2012-F03-004
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Altair for providing us with the educational license for HyperWorks. We also thank LSTC for providing us with the educational license for LS-DYNA.
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Appendix: Investigation of Vehicle Profile Characteristics
Appendix: Investigation of Vehicle Profile Characteristics
To determine proper range of the geometry variables, an investigation of vehicle profile characteristics was conducted focusing on the worldwide sedan models produced between 2008 and 2010. The approach is similar to the investigation on vehicle front profile characteristics by International Harmonized Research Activities (IHRA) in 2003 [25]. The profile data were extracted from the Internet, and validated by typical variables published by car manufacturers, such as total length, height, and wheelbase. Then the profile curves of all the sedans were aligned and plotted in one figure, where axis of abscissa is the ground line and axis of ordinates is the vertical longitudinal line of the bumper front edge (Fig. 11). Figure 12 shows the definitions of the measure points for the bumper lead (BL), bumper center-line height (BCH), leading edge height (LEH), bonnet length, bonnet angle, windscreen angle and the bottom depth and height of the front skirt.
Sedan front profile corridors
Definitions of the vehicle front profile parameters
The lower and upper bounds and average value of each variable are summarized in Table 2. The results of the vehicle front profile characteristics were used to determine the range of the design variables for further DOE study.
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Nie, B., Huang, J., Xia, Y., Zhou, Q., Deng, B., Neal, M. (2013). Development of a Parametric Vehicle Front Structure Model for Pedestrian Impact Simulations. In: Proceedings of the FISITA 2012 World Automotive Congress. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 197. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33805-2_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33805-2_24
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