Simulation of Automobile Side Member Collapse for Crash Energy Management

Abstract

Vehicle collision characteristics are among the most im portant performance parameters to be examined at the design stage. These characteristics are greatly affected by the collapse mode of the box columns making up the side members of the vehicle body. An accordion-type collapse mode in which the columns do not bend but collapse in sequence is ideal. Beads or reinforcements are often used to produce this kind of mode; however, the work done on them to date has been mainly experi mental, owing to an absence of adequate analytical methods such as the finite element method. In this study, we have developed a new analytical method for providing beading on side members along the buckling mode using finite element analysis calculations.