The SuperPlug™ door module is a new Delphi innovation. It is a one-piece composite structure, which integrates several door components into one assembly. This reduces the total part count, simplifies the vehicle level assembly process, and reduces labor cost (see the Appendix).
The door slam durability test is an important factor in door module design. As more hardware is integrated into the SuperPlug, this subsystem performance in a door slam test becomes important. Therefore, the correct placement of components and the supporting structure is critical.
Currently, the evaluation of door slam durability for the SuperPlug is a process of build then test. This is time consuming and costly due to a long testing lead-time and the expense of tooling a new mold. It was realized that a numerical process for assessing the effect of door slam would be required. This process would compute the dynamic response using finite element analysis (FEA).
The first attempt within the Doors Systems group to simulate door slam used static FEA [1]. It was based on the assumption that the maximum dynamic loads could be modeled as point forces at the center of gravity of each component. This approach had the advantage of producing results quickly. However, the results are not considered realistic because factors like inertia, time and contact were not included in the analysis. It was then recommended to apply dynamic FEA methods that can consider these factors.
This paper is a summary of a master’s degree thesis work on door slam [1]. It will describe how dynamic FEA was used to determine the response of a SuperPlug to a door slam. Discussion on how the FEA results compare with door slam tests will be presented.