Prediction of the Crashworthiness of Vehicle Body Aided Computer

It is important to predict the crashworthiness of a body frame in order to design the structure which absorbs the impact energy effectively at the front or rear structure member of the body. We have been analyzing the crashworthiness with the following methods to establish a fundamental concept on the buckling characteristics of the frame at the initial design stage of vehicle development.

1. 1)
   The method to introduce the empirical formulas considered with the effective width theory
2. 2)
   The finite element method (FEM) based on the plastic joint method
3. 3)
   The buckling analysis considered with the initial strain and the inertia force of engine

Nowadays, it is possible to conduct a large deformation analysis of a crashworthiness by using the Super Computer.

This paper describes that the fundamental concept of energy-management could be established by systematically summarizing and arranging the above-mentioned analyses, and presents calculation results of crashworthiness at the front or rear collision by using of entire body involved in the engine, suspension, and so on.