Development of simplified truck chassis model for crash analysis in different impact scenarios

Abstract

A current simplified truck chassis model is developed in this project so that it can be used for oblique impact analysis. In the developed simplified model, 2D rotational spring elements are applied to simulate the multi-axis bending behaviour of the chassis model that appears in the oblique impact. This paper illustrates the modelling method and the developed model is validated through oblique crashworthiness analysis. The analysis results obtained from the simplified and detailed chassis models are compared to each other. Through the comparison, it is verified that the developed simplified model can correctly predict and simulate the chassis's crash response during the oblique impact, while the computing time is significantly reduced. Drawbacks of the plastic hinges modelled with the 2D rotational spring elements and future directions are also discussed. All the computer analyses and simulations in this research were performed using an explicit finite element solver, LS-DYNA.

Keywords:

• truck chassis
• simplified model
• crashworthiness analysis
• oblique impact
• multi-axis bending
• 2D rotational springs