Development of a parametric vehicle front structure model for pedestrian impact simulations

Abstract

In this study, a simplified, parametric vehicle front structure was proposed to represent the real vehicle when impacted with full-scale finite element pedestrian human body model (HBM). To capture the real impact responses of human lower limbs, the real vehicle energy-absorbing structures were modeled using distributed beam elements and deformable shell elements to replicate the contact characteristics between vehicle and HBM. An investigation of vehicle front-end profile characteristics in worldwide popular sedan models was conducted to determine the ranges of geometry variables. A local stiffness measurement approach is also proposed. The simplified model is further validated using a detailed sedan model, and the impact responses of HBM in the two simulations correlate quite well with each other. Therefore it can be further used in the DOE study or optimization work in the vehicle front structure design for pedestrian lower limb impact protection. © Springer-Verlag 2013.