Simplified crashworthiness method of automotive frame for conceptual design

Abstract The crashworthiness design of automotive structure is crucial to ensure the safety of passengers. Lumped parameter models, multi-body models, plastic frame models and detailed shell element models were all introduced to simulate the collision process of automotive structure. However, plastic frame models were only confined to use box beams. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive crashworthiness design of plastic frame model, which can innovatively create complex thin-walled beams with arbitrary cross-sectional shapes, such as open, single-cell, double-cell, three-cell and four-cell sections. Numerical example verified that the proposed model can effectively replace detailed shell element model to accelerate the crashworthiness analysis of automotive structure, especially for the conceptual design.