Using Terocore® Brand Structural Foam to Improve Bumper Beam Design

The objective of this study is to design efficient epoxy structural foam reinforcements to improve the energy absorption of front and rear automotive bumper beams.

Three bumper structural performance criteria were studied. The 64 KPH Front Pole Test criteria was studied to improve energy absorption early in the crash event to facilitate earlier air bag crash pulse detection; thereby reducing air bag firing time. The 16 KPH Rear Thatcham Crash Test was studied to improve energy absorption of the rear bumper system. Improvement in energy absorption will lead to a reduction in intrusion of the Thatcham Rear Moving Barrier into the rear of the vehicle; thereby reducing vehicle repair cost. The 8 KPH Rear Pole Test was also studied to increase energy absorption; thereby reducing intrusion of the rear pole into the vehicle structure and reducing repair cost.