Airbag simulation utilising arbitrary lagrangian eulerian methodology for out of position cases

• Main Author: Khan, Mohammed Uzair
• Published: University of Salford 2008
• Subjects: 629.276
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.490461

The deployment of car airbags can be lethal to an occupant of the vehicle when caught Out Of Position (OOP) as the envelope can establish contact with the person before completion of the explosive inflation process. This has resulted in severe injuries and fatalities in the past. The aim of this research study is to demonstrate the superior modelling and simulation process which utilises the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) algorithms, especially in OOP loading cases. This has been carried out using a transient dynamic finite element software package called LS-DYNA. The load cases considered are in accordance with the specific scenarios detailed by the governing body of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). The investigation compares this relatively new technique with the popular numerical methodology based on the Control Volume formulation whose deficiencies become more prominent when OOP scenarios are considered.