In scope of this study, frontal collision of a pre-engineered electromobile vehicle to straight rigid wall is examined via ANSYS Workbench LS-DYNA computer aided engineering (CAE) software. The data obtained are compared with the critical limit values accepted by various authorities and the inferences were made regarding the injury status of dummy.
Figure A. Crash moment of numerical model to the wallPurpose: Main objective of this study was to examine different collision scenarios of a preengineered vehicle with a dummy including the usage of seat belt and various structural material types in a numerical analysis platform.Theory and Methods: Internationally accepted injury criteria (HIC: Head Injury Criteria, CSI: Chest Severity Index and Axial Femur Forces) which will be the objective assessment tool for obtained results, are briefly explained. Technical data of electromobile vehicle and DC engine are provided. Orthotropic, isotropic and anisotropic material parameters of numerical model are tabulated. This section also includes initial and boundary conditions and mesh structure used in ANSYS Workbench LS-DYNA.
Results:In terms of axial femur forces, seat belted dummy models are subjected to lower axial forces for all kinds of structural material scenarios in comparison to unbelted dummy model (Unbelted dummy right femur: from -2,47 kN up to -5,48 kN; left femur: from -1,56 kN up to -4,02 kN. Belted dummy right femur: from 1,6 kN up to 3,75 kN, left femur: from 1,93 kN up to 3,28 kN). Resultant head and chest and injury criteria of belted dummies are far higher (from 220,8 up to 1355) than unbelted ones (between 168,7 and 209,1).
Conclusion:Under the light of the presented results, the first thing that draws attention is that head and chest injury parameters are lower in models without seat belt compared to models with seat belt. This situation, which initially convinces one to perceive that models without seat belts are safer, actually demonstrates the life-saving feature of the seat belt. The dummy model strain in the models with seat belts has been excessive due to the fact that the seat belt overcomes the inertia of the dummy model. In models without seat belts, the dummy model continued its movement towards the front of the vehicle while maintaining its inertia. Therefore, their head and chest strain parameters were lower than the models with seat belts.In models without a seat belt, the feet of the dummy model directly hit the support plate, causing huge forces and moments to occur. In this case, the feet were severely damaged, the ankles turned upside down and the solution could not be continued. Assuming that the solution continues, it is straightforward to estimate that models without seat belts will be thrown out of the vehicle and they would be exposed to a serious injury risk.