THE APPLICATION OF ELASTOMERIC BUCKLING COLUMNS IN AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT BUMPER SYSTEM

In an Energy Management Bumper System (EMBS) maximum energy absorption efficiency is achieved with a "square wave" load/deflection response. The laboratory and barrier impact tests conducted in this study show that elastomeric columns provide essentially square wave response during the buckling stage of column deflection. Of the materials tested, high diene-low Mooney EPDM (terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene) materials fabricated into hollow cube absorber units exhibited square wave efficiencies of 85-90% and were found to be the most suitable elastomers for an EMBS application. The efficient use of the elastomeric absorbers in an EMBS was accomplished by placing a metal face plate in front of the units to distribute the impact force across the face of the vehicle. This concept was applied to an engineering design for a 3000 lb. vehicle EMBS that would handle impacts at 5 mph in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 215. /HSRI/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Automotive Engineering Congress and Exposition, Detroit, 24-28 February 1975.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers

  485 Lexington Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10017
• Authors:
  • Tundermann, J H
  • Larson, G M
  • Anderson, R B
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 13 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barriers (Roads); Bumpers; Crash tests; Elastomers; Energy absorbing materials; Laboratory tests; Materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers
• Old TRIS Terms: Energy absorbers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096232
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 750011
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1975 12:00AM