THE MADYMO FINITE ELEMENT AIRBAG MODEL

Simple and more sophisticated empirical airbag models have been developed since the early seventies. By discretization of the fabric skin of the airbag in finite elements the motion of the different parts of the fabric and contacts with penetrating objects is described more accurately than by the empirical models. This is particularly useful for oblique and out-of-position impacts. The fabric material behaviour is described in a more realistic way allowing the calculation of the stress distribution in the airbag fabric. The newly developed MADYMO finite element (FE) airbag model is optimized for airbag simulations in a crash victim simulation environment. The software implementation resulted in a flexible and user-friendly simulation tool. The approach and theory of the MADYMO FE airbag are described. The results of two out-of-position simulations and tests are presented. The agreement between the measured and calculated results is good while computing times are quite reasonable. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 864606.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Lupker, H A
  • HELLEMAN, H B
  • FRATERMAN, E
  • Wismans, J
• Conference:
  • THE THIRTEENTH INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON EXPERIMENTAL SAFETY VEHICLES, NOVEMBER 4-7, 1991, PARIS, FRANCE. VOLUME 2
• Publication Date: 1993-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 1139-1146

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air bags; Anthropometry; Calculation; Computer programs; Conferences; Crashes; Dummies; Finite element method; Pendulum tests; Simulation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Side
• ITRD Terms: 1465: Air bag (restraint system); 1618: Anthropometric dummy; 6464: Calculation; 1631: Collision; 8525: Conference; 6490: Finite element method; 6112: Pendulum; 9074: Side; 9103: Simulation; 8645: Software
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00665034
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Files: ITRD, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 9 1994 12:00AM