OPTIMIZATION OF A MODULAR COCKPIT CROSS CAR BEAM FOR CRASHWORTHINESS. IN: AUTOMOTIVE CRASH RESEARCH: SIDE IMPACT, ROLLOVER, AND VEHICLE AGGRESSIVITY

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical optimization o a cross car beam of a modular cockpit. The optimization study was performed using LS-OPT code and LS-DTNA solver code. The optimization was based on component load levels that resulted from FMVSS214 dynamic side impacts. The component load conditions were derived from a full vehicle simulation and the beam was subjected to axial load alone and to both axial and bending loads simultaneously. The beam was minimized for lower mass for a selected diameter and a given peak force to occur within 5mm axial deformation and optimal thickness of the beam for minimal effective plastic strain peak for a given resultant deformation.