Composite reinforcing of the vehicle structures for enhancing the resistance in side crashes
Application of strict safety requirements and attempts of auto makers to achieve light-weight vehicle chassis have led to replacement of conventional heavy structures with brand-new low weight models providing better performance due to smart design. Top-hat thin-walled beams are widely employed in a passenger vehicle’s side structures because of their strength, acceptable energy absorption characteristics, simple montage process using spot-welding and light-weighting. However, finding applicable solutions to reinforce such structures has become more challenging by considering weight issues.
In the present study, the aim is to strengthen thin-walled top-hat beams using internal metal or composite reinforcements. At the first stage, three types of steel made reinforced top-hat beams are manufactured and tested under quasi-static three-point bending and lateral impact loading conditions.
A FE numerical simulation has been carried out using LSDYNA and the results are evaluated using experimental data. A parametric study and some single and multi-objective optimizations have been conducted using validated FE configurations.
Furthermore, to investigate the feasibility of the reinforcing method, a full vehicle side crash scenario is simulated while the vehicle’s rocker beam is modified.
At the next stage, three types of composite reinforced beams are built in form of metal-composite hybrid structure. Specimens were tested under quasi-static and impact loads and the corresponding FE code is evaluated using experimental results. Eventually, steel made specimens are compared with hybrid ones and conclusions are made.
Selected Journal Papers