A development of simple analysis model on bumper barrier impact and new IIHS bumper impact using the dynamically equivalent beam approach

This paper presents a simple analysis model for bumper barrier impact and new IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) bumper impact instead of a non-linear finite element impact analysis. A dynamically equivalent beam approach was introduced to simplify the non-linear dynamic bumper impact. For a bumper barrier impact, the equivalent curved-beam element was substituted for the bumper beam and the bumper foam. For a new IIHS bumper impact, a modified curved-beam element of bumper barrier impact considering the effect of contoured new IIHS impact barrier was used. The accuracy of this simple analysis model was tested by comparing its results with those of the non-linear finite element analysis. Tested bumper beam types were press type beam and roll forming beam used widely in the current car bumpers. The maximum displacement error between the two models did not exceed 1.95% for a barrier impact and 13.2% for a new IIHS bumper impact. This accuracy is good enough to be used in the early stage of bumper beam design process. This simple analysis model is expected to reduce the car development time and tests cost significantly.