Lightweight design of automobile component using high strength steel based on dent resistance

Lightweight and crashworthiness are two important aspects of auto-body design. In this paper, based on the shallow shell theory, the expression of dent resistance stiffness of double curvatured shallow shell is obtained under the concentrated load condition. The critical loads resulting in the local trivial dent in the center of the shallow shell is regarded as the important index for the lightweight of the automobile parts. This rule is applied to the lightweight design of bumper system by using high strength steel instead of mild steel. The crashworthiness simulation of the lightweight part proves the validity of the lightweighting process. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.