High Efficiency Energy Absorber for Knee Impact

OEM and Tier One integrated suppliers must design cockpit safety systems in order to protect the occupant's lower torso during a barrier impact. This requirement has traditionally led to the use of stamped steel brackets producing heavy complex structural systems that are not ideal for energy management.

The purpose of this paper is to show the development and performance of an engineering thermoplastic (ETP) energy absorption bracket that results in a low mass, highly efficient design. A combination of geometric crush zones and ETP material advantages can achieve a cost-effective solution to meet occupant protection requirements.