Characterization and Modeling of Instrument Panel Textile Trim Materials for Passenger Airbag Deployment Analysis

Premium instrument panels (IPs) contain passenger airbag (PAB) systems that are typically comprised of a stiff plastic substrate and a soft ‘skin’ material which are adhesively bonded. During airbag deployment, the skin tears along the scored edges of the door holding the PAB system, the door opens, and the airbag inflates to protect the occupant. To accurately simulate the PAB deployment dynamics during a crash event all components of the instrument panel and the PAB system, including the skin, must be included in the model. It has been recognized that the material characterization and modeling of the skin tearing behavior are critical for predicting the timing and inflation kinematics of the airbag. Even so, limited data exists in the literature for skin material properties at hot and cold temperatures and at the strain rates created during the airbag deployment. This paper presents tensile test results of one typical skin material conducted at four different strain rates of 0.01/s, 1/s, 10/s, and 100/s. Challenges in testing are discussed. A material modeling methodology is proposed that accounts for anisotropy, loading rate sensitivity and failure, and is verified by comparison of results from simulation and physical tests. Finally, recommendations for setting proper contact parameters between different parts in the model and for proper representation of the adhesive between the instrument panel substrate and skin are presented.