Abstract
The Beam-Grid (BG) is a novel approach for reduced order modeling of thin-walled tubular shells and panels for simulating their stiffness, collapse and post-collapse behavior with significantly reduced computational effort in comparison to full-shell finite element models. The BG configures the geometry of a thin-walled tube using quadrilateral grid of beam elements with diagonal stiffeners, properties for which are assigned using physics based equivalence rules. Then a simplified-vehicle BG model is developed using a geometric modeler which can create a vehicle skeletal BG (or equivalent shell) geometry using primitives like joints and links. The simplified-vehicle BG model is subjected to full frontal, offset frontal and side impact load cases, and the results are compared with the corresponding shell model, also generated using the same geometric modeler. The results demonstrate the potential of the BG to be used as a quick crashworthiness assessment tool that can be used in the design evolution of automotive vehicle body structure.