Energy Absorption Enhancement for Multiple Impact Angles of a Rear Crash Attenuator
- PDF / 1,968,429 Bytes
- 9 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 3 Downloads / 164 Views
TECHNICAL ARTICLE—PEER-REVIEWED
Energy Absorption Enhancement for Multiple Impact Angles of a Rear Crash Attenuator Naveen Venugopal
. Archit Milind Deshpande . Hamid Dalir
Submitted: 8 October 2020 / Accepted: 28 October 2020 ASM International 2020
Abstract This research aims at developing a reliable finite element framework to investigate the specific energy absorption of a rear crash attenuator of an open-wheel-type IndyCar vehicle. The failure behavior was learnt based on various nonlinear finite element modeling techniques to simulate a crash as per regulations from the governing body of IndyCar, utilizing the continuum damage mechanics model. The sandwich structure material characterization for the tuning of the material model was done by the means of a correlation with experimental data and adjusting the non-physical input parameters in the software. Post-calibration, the development of the rear impact attenuator was performed with a finite element model. The failure modes were investigated for head-on and oblique impact angles. The specific energy absorption was determined for these configurations of impact by evaluating the force over the crushed displacement. The insights from the simulation were utilized to improve the overall specific energy absorption by 41.8% with a gradual deceleration value to that of the prescribed. Finally, the results were compared to the previous IndyCar structure and a new prototype was suggested with highlights of the refreshed results.
N. Venugopal (&) H. Dalir Department of Motorsports Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering & Technology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA e-mail: [email protected] H. Dalir e-mail: [email protected] N. Venugopal A. M. Deshpande H. Dalir Advanced Composite Structures Engineering Laboratory, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA
Keywords Specific energy absorption Continuum damage model Oblique impacts Crash attenuator
Introduction Every vehicle is designed with the prime objective of safe transportation of its occupants. But when we deal with high speed in lightweight structures specifically in open-wheeltype race cars, generally known a formula type car, the importance of these structures is immense. These structures of the chassis are known as the crash attenuator, and they are involved in absorption of the impact energy during an event of a crash (Fig. 1). Over the years, the design of these structures has evolved based on the outer aerodynamic shape of the formula type cars but the engineering underneath that skin defies its limit whenever a crash takes place. Improving its specific energy absorption (SEA) is always the prime target of any composite engineer within the bounds of regulation since that plays a crucial role in the safety of the driver. The application of numerical analysis with the base of extended finite element methods (XFEM) have made this easier but still, the prediction and approximation in the be
Data Loading...
