A Novel Technique for Modeling Vehicle Crash using Lumped Parameter Models

Abstract

This paper presents a novel technique for modeling a full frontal vehicle crash. The crash event is divided into two phases; the first until maximum crush and the second part when the vehicle starts pitching forward. This novel technique will help develop a three degrees of freedom (DOF) lumped parameter model (LPM) for crash and support in the vehicle development process. The paper also highlights the design process for reducing vehicle pitching in occupant protection load cases. The model has been validated against a finite element (FE) simulation of a full frontal crash of a Chevrolet Silverado developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the LPM shows good correlation with the FE test data.