Dynamic PIV analysis of High-Speed Flow Ejected from the Inflator Housing of a Curtain-type Airbag

Dynamic PIV를 이용한 커튼형 에어백 부품림 장치의 유동해석

Passenger safety is one of the most important considerations in the purchase of an automobile. A curtain-type air bag is increasingly adapted in deluxe cars for protecting passengers from the danger of side clash. Inflator housing is a main part of the curtain-type air bag system for supplying high-pressure gases to pump up the air bag-curtain. Although the inflator housing is fundamental in designing a curtain-type air bag system, flow information on the inflator housing is very limited. In this study, we measured instantaneous velocity fields of a high-speed flow ejecting from the inflator housing using a dynamic PIV system. From the velocity field data measured at a high frame-rate, we evaluated the variation of the mass flow rate with time. From the instantaneous velocity fields of flow ejecting from the airbag inflator housing in the initial stage, we can see a flow pattern of broken shock wave front and its downward propagation. The flow ejecting from the inflator housing was found to have large velocity fluctuations and the maximum velocity was about 700m/s. The velocity of high-speed flow was decreased rapidly and the duration of high-speed flow over 400m/s was maintained only to 30ms. After 100ms, there was no perceptible flow.