The Analysis of the Rotational Behavior of Vehicles Using a Full Vehicle Model Simulation

This paper describes the rotational behavior of the vehicle in the vertical plane at frontal collision against a flat barrier. The control of the rotational behavior is important because this often has a great influence on both passenger compartment integrity and occupant protection. The authors examine the cause of this rotational behavior of the vehicle using the numerical simulation of a full scale passenger car model with an explicit finite element method.

As a result, it is found that the deformation process and the transmitted force of basic framework greatly affect to the rotational behavior. The simulation explains its difference between a typical FR (front engine &, front drive) vehicle and a FR (front engine & rear drive) vehicle. The mechanism during the rotational behavior is analyzed by means of the transmitted force to subsequent frame members. The typical comparison of the simulation and the vehicle test are also presented.