• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.94-100
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• 2004

In order to improve the frontal crash performance of an Aluminum Space Frame Vehicle, this presents a systematic optimal design process to maximize the crush energy absorption capacity of side-members while satisfying the maximum displacement constraint. In this study, five design types are studied for selecting a good collapse initiator. Then, for the selected collapse initiator type, 7 design variables are defined to represent cross section shape, thickness and bead interval. The systematic optimization processor, R-INOPL uses DOE, RSM and numerical optimization techniques. R-INOPL uses only 14 analyses to solve the 7 design variable optimization problem the final design can improve 103.9% of the internal energy and reduce 13.9% of the maximum displacement.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2003

For the weight reduction of vehicle body up to 20∼30% compared to the conventional monocoque steel body·.in-white, most automotive manufacturers have attempted to develop the aluminum intensive body-in-white using an aluminum space frame. In this paper, the crush tests and simulations for the aluminum extrusions filled with the structural from are performed to evaluate the collapse characteristics of that light weighted material. From these studies. the effectiveness of structural for is evaluated in improving automotive crashworthiness. In order to improve the improve energy absorption capability of the aluminum space frame body, safety design modifications are performed and analyzed based on the suggested collapse initiator concepts and on the application of the aluminum extrusions filled with structural foam. The effectiveness of these design concepts on the frontal and side impact characteristics of the aluminum intensive vehicle structure is investigated and summarized.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.216-233
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• 2002

Due to the environmental problems of fuel consumption and vehicle emission, etc., automotive makers are trying to reduce the weight of vehicles. The most effective way to reduce a vehicle weight is to use lighter materials, such as aluminum and plastics. Aluminum Intensive Vehicle(AIV) has many advantages in the aspects of weight reduction, body stiffness and model change. So, most of automotive manufacturers are attempting to develop AIV using Aluminum Space Frame(ASF). The weight of AIV can be generally reduced to about 30% than that of conventional steel vehicle without the loss of impact energy absorbing capability. And the body stiffness of AIV is higher than that of conventional steel monocoque body. In this study, Aluminum Intensive Vehicle is developed and analyzed on the basis of steel monocoque body. The energy absorbing characteristics of aluminum extrusion components are investigated from the test and simulation results. The crush and crash characteristics of AIV based on the FMVSS 208 regulations are evaluated in comparison with steel monocoque. Using these results, the design concepts of the effective energy absorbing members and the design guide line to improve crashworthiness for AIV are suggested.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.208-219
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• 2000

In this study, static axial crush tests were performed with the new aluminum/GFRP hybrid tube. Glass/Epoxy prepregs were wrapped around an aluminum tube and co-cured. The failure of the hybrid tube was stable and progressive without trigger mechanism, and specific energy absorption was increased to the maximum of 33% in comparison with the aluminum tube. Effective energy absorption is possible for an inner aluminum tube because a wrapped composite tube constrains the deflection of an aluminum tube. The failure of a hybrid composite tube was stable without trigger mechanism because the inner aluminum tube could play the role of the crack initiator and controller. Mean crushing load could be calculated by modifying the plastic hinge collapse model for hybrid materials. The predicted results by this analytical model showed good agreement with the experimental results. It can be said that Aluminum/Glass-Epoxy hybrid tube is suitable for the vehicle front structure because this hybrid tube shows effective energy absorption, easy production, and simple application capability for RTM process.