COLLAPSE ANALYSIS OF AUTOMOTIVE STRUCTURES USING FINITE ELEMENT TECHNIQUES

This paper presents a computer based analysis suitable for application to the collapse problems of sheet metal structures. In particular it is shown that allowance may be made for the effects of local buckling which are peculiar to thin-walled beam members at failure. Two practical examples of the collapse of automotive structures are presented. The static and dynamic collapse of a public service vehicle frame is described, the computed results being compared with those obtained in the laboratory in both cases. The static collapse of a more complicated structure, the sideframe from a medium British saloon passenger car subject to lateral load, is also presented. Theory and practice are compared and good agreement in terms of energy absorbed during collapse is seen to have been achieved. The computer program described is based upon the direct-stiffness method of structural analysis applied in an incremental fashion. The analysis is three-dimensional and capable of dealing with problems of material non-linearity, geometrical non-linearity and structural instability. It is therefore suitable for application to the collapse problems of any general three dimensional framed structure, particularly those composed of light weight thin-walled elements. Of importance is the relatively small computing requirement for this class of problem which arises from the simplified approach adopted in the theory. /Author/TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  International Federation of Auto Techniques Engs

  3 Avenue du President Wilson
  F 75116 Paris,   France 
• Authors:
  • Tidbury, G H
  • Miles, J
• Publication Date: 0

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 6 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Absorption; Beams; Buckling; Buses; Collapse; Computer programs; Conferences; Crashworthiness; Digital computers; Dynamics; Emergency vehicles; Energy; Energy absorption; Failure; Finite element method; Loads; Nonlinear systems; Sheet metal; Statics; Stiffness; Structural analysis; Vehicle components; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Nonlinearity
• Old TRIS Terms: Public service vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 6758: Absorption; 1057: Air transport network; 5522: Buckling; 1272: Bus; 8525: Conference; 8673: Digital computer; 213: Energy; 5520: Failure; 6490: Finite element method; 5567: Load; 4552: Sheet (metal); 8645: Software; 5931: Stiffness
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165650
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 14 1978 12:00AM