Investigation of Improving Energy Absorption Performance and Reducing Weight of Passenger Air Bag Modules Using Computer Aided Analysis

A computer analysis method using software for nonlinear dynamic finite element calculations has been developed to perform impact simulation on a passenger air bag module. The effects of the following parameters on energy absorption performance are investigated:

1. 1)
   Air Bag Module Door Bead and Thickness
2. 2)
   Reaction Can Material and Plate Thickness

From the results of this parameter study, design criteria are determined for achieving a low weight design with optimum energy absorbing characteristics.