A vehicle front frame crash design optimization using hole-type and dent-type crush initiator

摘要

The hole-type crush initiators according to various ratios of thickness to width (t/b) were studied. And the approximate equation to quickly predict the optimum size of the crush initiator by impact velocity for each ratio of thickness to width was introduced. Also, the simple rectangular and circular dent-type crush initiators of a front frame with non-uniform closed-hat section in a vehicle were studied for frontal crashworthiness according to various ratios of thickness to width (t/b). The optimum size and dent depth of a crush initiator, whose location is decided by the homogenization method, were studied by using design of experiment and response surface method. Design analysis results of the dent-type crush initiators were compared with those of the hole-type crush initiator of the same size as the dent-type crush initiators. The rectangular dent-type crush initiator absorbed more crash energy than the circular dent-type crush initiator. Dynamic mean crushing loads of a rectangular dent-type crush initiator of size equal to that of the hole-type crush initiator designed by the homogenization method were similar to those of the hole-type crush initiator. The trend curve of the optimum size rectangular dent-type crush initiator design is similar with the trend curve of hole-type crush initiator design. Therefore, the approximate equation used to predict the optimum size of the hole-type crush initiator can be applied to find the optimum size of the rectangular dent-type crush initiator.