Crashworthiness analysis of a corkscrew rollover event

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Crashworthiness analysis of a corkscrew rollover event

Santos, Alex / Santiago, Klemer / Sobral Genaro, Piero / Capusso, Rafael / Tedim Terra, Rafael

The objective of this work is to capture the final deformed shape of a vehicle after a rollover caused by a corkscrew event (ramp). With this study, it will be possible to understand the vehicle structural behavior during this event and be able to improve the vehicle safety in this specific condition. For this proposal, it will be presented a virtual methodology using available commercial CAE tools and perform a crashworthiness analysis of the desired event.The first step is to capture the dynamic event through a Multibody analysis that represents the interaction among the vehicle tire, suspension components (Springs, Dampers, Jounce Bumper, Bushings, Stabilizer Bar etc.), vehicle structural stiffness, mass, center of gravity and inertias when exposed to a corkscrew standard ramp, that initiates the rollover event. This methodology will represent with fidelity all dynamic aspects of rollover event before the vehicle touches the ground. At this point, comparison of the analysis velocities output with experimental data can be achieved.After this step, a second non-linear structural analysis in the time domain, will be performed with the vehicle positioned, with all 6 DOF matrix velocities inputted from the Multibody analysis output, at the instant of time before touching the ground. Thus, it will be possible to capture the structural behavior and deformation when the vehicle hits the ground and rolls by itself. The final structure deformed shape will be compared with physical tests results.