Structural adaptivity for acceleration level reduction in passenger car frontal collisions

A mathematical model was developed to explore and demonstrate the injury reducing potential of an adaptable frontal stiffness system for full frontal collisions. The model was validated by means of crash tests and was found to predict the peak accelerations of the crash test vehicles well, whereas correlation concerning mean acceleration or residual crush was not found. Vehicles were divided into three mass classes, and a test matrix was established in order to evaluate different combinations of vehicles involved in frontal crash at three closing velocities. In a baseline simulation setup, constant stiffness values were used and the results were compared to the corresponding simulations using adaptable frontal stiffness. Results show promising acceleration peak reductions at low speeds, implying that injury risk reductions are possible.