The energy absorption abilities of specific regions of a three spoke aluminum armature is investigated in this research through finite element methods. Experimental impact testing, using a droptower testing device, was conducted to investigate impacts between a rigid plate and a three spoke steering wheel armature. To gain further insight into the energy absorption capabilities of the armature, highly detailed finite element models were developed and simulated under identical testing parameters. In addition to providing loading and displacement information, the numerical simulations can produce a significantly more amount of information during the impact, especially concerning energy absorption. This research illustrates numerical simulations can accurately predict experimentally findings and, most importantly, the energy absorbed by certain regions of the steering wheel armature is very dependent on the impact loading conditions.
Energy absorption properties of a steering wheel armature during impact
2001
7 Seiten, 7 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Automotive engineering | 2003
|SAGE Publications | 2003
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