Integrated Occupant-Car Crash Simulation with the Finite Element Method: The Porsche Hybrid III-Dummy and Airbag Model

The work involved in laying out restraint systems for motorcars can be supported by numerical crash-simulations in the concept-phase. A prerequisite is that the interactions between dummy and vehicle structure are determined under realistic conditions. It is then possible to reduce time, costs and finally the development risk, because the subsequent safety tests with car prototypes can be realized with already optimized components.

Until now the simulation of vehicle structure and occupant behaviour was realized very often sequentially in succession, that means without consideration of interactions between vehicle structure and occupant. First acceleration histories of the passenger compartment were determined by simulation of the vehicle structure with the Finite Element Method (FEM). These results were used as input for Crash Victim Simulations (CVS).

This paper presents a new way for occupant safety, the integrated Finite Element crash calculation of a passenger compartment complete with steering column, airbag, knee restraint and Hybrid III dummy. Experiences with such integrated FEM-Simulations will be discussed.