Non-linear dynamic response structural optimization for frontal-impact and side-impact crash tests

Vehicle crash optimization is a representative non-linear dynamic response structural optimization that utilizes highly non-linear vehicle crash analysis in the time domain. In the automobile industries, crash optimization is employed to enhance the crashworthiness characteristics. The equivalent-static-loads method has been developed for such non-linear dynamic response structural optimization. The equivalent static loads are the static loads that generate the same displacement field in linear static analysis as those of non-linear dynamic analysis at a certain time step, and the equivalent static loads are imposed as external loads in linear static structural optimization. In this research, the conventional equivalent-static-loads method is expanded to the crash management system with regard to the frontal-impact test and a full-scale vehicle for a side-impact crash test. Crash analysis frequently considers unsupported systems which do not have boundary conditions and where adjacent structures do not penetrate owing to contact. Since the equivalent-static-loads method uses linear static response structural optimization, boundary conditions are required, and the impenetrability condition cannot be directly considered. To overcome the difficulties, a problem without boundary conditions is solved by using the inertia relief method. Thus, relative displacements with respect to a certain reference point are used in linear static response optimization. The impenetrability condition in non-linear analysis is transformed to the impenetrability constraints in linear static response optimization.