Stiffness Coefficients of Heavy Trailer Rear Structures
2022-01-0995
03/29/2022
- Content
- Post-crash deformation is often relied upon to determine impact severity, force of impact and the resultant change in velocity of the impact phase. Understanding how the vehicle’s structure absorbs crash energy allows a reconstructionist to utilize the post-crash deformation in these calculations. For light-duty passenger vehicles, there are many publicly available crash test databases that allow for vehicle specific and vehicle class specific energy absorption characteristics to be analyzed. Traditionally, commercial vehicles are not part of the publicly available crash test databases. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a series of tests with many different box trailers and seventh generation Chevrolet Malibu’s (2008 through 2012 model years). The box trailers were from different manufacturers (Wabash, Greatdane, Utility, Vanguard, Hyundai, Manac, Stoughton, and Struck) and different model years (2011-2018). The tests consisted of stationary box trailers impacted in the rear by the front of the Chevrolet Malibu’s with offsets of 30%, 50% or full overlap and all tests were conducted with a 35 mph impact speed. All the available tests were analyzed and energy absorption characteristics (stiffness coefficients) of the different trailers were analyzed and presented. The calculated stiffness coefficients were utilized in HVE impact simulations utilizing SIMON vehicle dynamics simulation software and DyMESH impact model. The results from the HVE simulation were compared to the IIHS test results to validate the coefficients calculated.
- Citation
- Suway, J., Desai, E., and Cornetto, A., "Stiffness Coefficients of Heavy Trailer Rear Structures," SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-0995, 2022, .