• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1445-1457
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• 1996

In building a finite element model of as automotive structure, the pillars and rockers are generally modeled as beam elemnts. The finite elemtns modeling using beam is faster and more efficient than that using shell elemetns. A joint is defined as theintersectio region of beam elemts and generally modeled with coupled rotational springs. In this study, hoint modeling technique is presented. First, the definitions of and anlaysis hypothesis for the joint are defined. Second the evaluation method of the joint stiffness from the static test is proposed. This method is simpler than existing evaluaiton methods. Third, the sensitivity analysis method and updating algorithm forjoint stiffness are presented. To verify these melthods, the finite element results of structural models with rigid joints and rotational spring joints are compared with experimental results.