A Multiphysics Computational Framework for Cylindrical Battery Behavior upon Mechanical Loading Based on LS-DYNA

Abstract

With the increasing number of electric vehicles, inevitable crash accidents, vibration and foreign objective penetration potentially generate catastrophic consequences such as fire or explosion. Unlike traditional engineering materials or structures, LIBs exhibit multiphysical behaviors including mechanical deformation/failure, thermal conduction, series of electrochemical and chemical reactions, upon mechanical abusive loading. Therefore, developing computational frameworks capable of describing multiphysical behaviors of cylindrical batteries in crash safety design of electric vehicles based on commercially available platform is in pressing need. In this paper, based on the widely used LS-DYNA software platform, a multiphysics model with the comprehensive coupling of mechanical, battery, short-circuit, exothermic and thermal models are established. Models are validated by the in-house designed experiments. Further, parametric studies based on the established model demonstrates that a larger indentor leads to a later onset of internal short circuit (ISC) for LIBs but result in a higher peak battery temperature. On the other hand, an ISC will be triggered early if the compressive loading is applied near the ends of battery cells. This study provides an accessible, fast and accurate computational framework for safety design, assessment and improvement of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles in harsh mechanical scenarios.

Electric Vehicles Batteries: Requirements and Challenges

“…Therefore, the coupled mechanical, electrical, electrochemical, thermal, and fluid responses should be considered in a model. State-of-the-art models [7][8][9] couple multiple solvers and can capture essential features of battery failure. However, they ignore the influence of electrolyte, and their electrochemical model is not physics-based, which limit their application range.…”

A fast‐validated computational model for cylindrical lithium‐ion batteries under multidirectional mechanical loading

“…32 By integrating the theoretical systems of the multiphysics fields of LIBs, Yuan et al proposed a multiphysics modeling method based on LS-DYNA software and developed a practical and efficient approach to predict the deformation and failure of battery packs. 33 Furthermore, multiphysics models are promoted into a multiscale model (transitioning from the particle scale to the cell scale) in References 34,35. Based on multiphysics model of the LIBs, efficient thermal management system and cooling strategies for LIBs are proposed in .…”

“…Xu et al proposed a 2D multiphysics computational framework model—covering mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical fields—for cylindrical LIBs to predict the deformation and electrochemical variations under the context of mechanical abuse 32 . By integrating the theoretical systems of the multiphysics fields of LIBs, Yuan et al proposed a multiphysics modeling method based on LS‐DYNA software and developed a practical and efficient approach to predict the deformation and failure of battery packs 33 . Furthermore, multiphysics models are promoted into a multiscale model (transitioning from the particle scale to the cell scale) in References 34,35.…”

Thermo‐mechanical coupling analysis of a cylindrical lithium‐ion battery with thermal radiation effect in generalized plane strain condition

“…Kang et al 18 developed a thermal analysis model of the battery pack with the forced convection condition, in which thermal radiation was ignored. Yuan 12 developed a multiphysical coupled model among mechanics, exothermicity, short‐circuit, battery, and temperature, which can exhibit the internal circuit caused by the mechanical deformation of LIBs. Most of the above analyses are one‐way coupling, in which the temperature is not affected by the stress.…”

“…Jeon 11 developed a transient thermo‐electric model to describe the temperature distribution in cylindrical 18 650 battery during a charge or discharge cycle, in which the battery deformation is neglected. Yuan et al 12 and Liu et al 13 developed a multi‐physical coupling model to improve the battery safety subjected to abusive mechanical loading. References 14‐16 presented some electrochemical‐thermal coupling models, in which the deformation of LIBs and thermal radiation were missed.…”