Dynamic Modeling and Correlation to Impact Testing of Welded Ribbed Plaques

Close-out panels, or knee bolsters, have become an important component of structural instrument panels. Using plastic in these structures has proven successful but can be costly to develop by trial and error technique. Estimating their behavior through mathematical modeling software is one way to reduce development time and cost. This paper discusses the correlation of test parts which have similar structures to bolsters used in production today with results of finite element analysis (FEA) modeling.