Crashworthiness
Dynamic Component Test
The crash behaviour of components can be evaluated by two different tests: dynamic 3-point bending tests on omega profiles and dynamic compression tests on box beams.
- Dynamic 3-point bending tests are performed on an improved setup of Drop Weight Tower with two high speed cameras (assisted by DIC analysis), application of strain gauges on the component and high-speed thermography.
- Uniaxial compression tests of crash boxes are performed with the recording of deformation by means of Digital Image Correlation in 3D mode with two cameras. The deformation fields are measured around wrinkles and potential cracks. The samples can be equipped with the strain gauges. Results are provided as force-displacement curve, max. force or crash energy at certain displacement level.
Intrinsic material crashworthiness
Fracture toughness is the key parameter for passive safety in crashworthiness and to resist any form of cracks during the service life of the vehicle. Essential Work of Fracture (EWF) is employed especially when other techniques such as KIC or JIC cannot be used. It can be applied also to metallic sheet materials and polymeric materials. The results can be used for the FEA of the final part.
The essential work of fracture corresponds to the energy absorbed by the test specimen during the loading and it is calculated by the area under the load-displacement curve.
