Elasto-Plastic Analysis of Automobile Body Structure by the Finite Element Method

This paper describes an elasto-plastic analysis based on a plastic hinge mechanism with large deformation analysis for the prediction of the collapse load of an automobile body structure. An analysis of a body structure subjected to tensile load of the seat belt is presented. Numerical calculations were made on a body structure subjected to tensile load of the seat belt as regulated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and then computer-calculated results compared with test results. The calculated result is in good agreement with the experimental one.