Structural intrusion into automobiles is a complex process involving deformation, translation and rotation of automobile structural components. However, a sled system has been developed to simulate the structural deformation seen in frontal crashes. Although current data on intrusion are limited, this system is capable of reproducing available toepan and floorpan intrusion-time histories in translational motion. In addition, the system is capable of being extended to rotational and combined rotational and translational motion. The intrusion simulator borrows extensively tested and documented technology that was developed to tailor deceleration pulses for sleds using hydraulic decelerators. As in the case of sled pulse tailoring, the intrusion profiles can be programmed in a precise manner with relative ease. Parameters affecting the intrusion pulse that can be adjusted include orifice sizes, orifice locations and hydraulic circuit layout. A computer program has been developed to determine these parameters iteratively for both the sled hydraulic decelerator and the intrusion actuator pistons simultaneously. Using this intrusion simulator, the significant effects of a 7,9 cm structural intrusion on dummy lower extremity force and moment values have been demonstrated. The displacement of this structural intrusion is selectable to within 5 % of the selected displacement condition. The peak forcing of the demonstrated intrusion pulse is repeatable in both timing and magnitude to within 5 % under widely differing inertial lower extremity loads. In addition, the effect of this translational intrusion is to increase a commonly used tibia injury index over 30 % over a similar no intrusion run for dummy lower extremities. Also, using rigid body toepan and floorpan structures, the system requires minimal energy from the hydraulic decelerator and does not significantly affect the sled pulse. The system, however, is capable of incorporating actual deformable vehicle components (e.g. instrument panels and toepan/floorpan structures).
A system for simulating structural intrusion in automobile full-frontal and frontal-offset crashes in the laboratory sled test environment
1997
12 Seiten, 12 Bilder, 13 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995
|Automotive engineering | 1995
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