Suitability assessments for composite-metal-hybrid material systems for automotive crash structures
Abstract
Current material selection methods significantly employ subjective user decisions and thus often lack the appropriate objectivity. The proposed methodology for suitability assessments for composite-metal-hybrid material systems in automotive crash structural applications is based solely on physical quantities to support and replace subjective aspects in decision-making. It analyses the structural loading from several crash load cases, such as frontal barrier crashes or pole side impacts, simultaneously using specifically defined suitability criteria. One is based on the anisotropy of loading and a second one comprises the global structural plastic deformation of all load cases. These criteria are then evaluated systematically in order to reach a transparent and reproducible process for suitability assessments for hybrid material systems in automotive structural applications. With the input from numerical crash simulations, experimental studies and the definition of applicable suitability criteria the methodology is an efficient and employable tool, which will support material selection processes providing a high level of method objectivity. Furthermore, the analysis and visualization of superimposed data for a multitude of crash load cases is a new approach to the assessment and reveals new aspects of structural loading. The methodology itself is expandable through the definition of new criteria and may be transferred to other functional domains or material spectrums.
