Abstract
Keywords - Functional Benchmarking, Body Components, Performance Numbers, Lightweight, Stiffness, Strength, Denting
In order to shorten the development process and to determine the performance, quality and costs of a body component, benchmarking processes based on defined requirements are executed. In this paper the generation and application of performance numbers for the functional benchmarking of body components is described. The performance numbers are generated for selected components like hoods, bumpers and B-pillars. The intention is to identify clearly the component with the best performance.
As a basis the main technical requirements of the components hood, bumper and B-pillar are established. Concerning the hood these are the global stiffnesses, the local stiffnesses (denting behaviour) and the local strengths. Based on that parameters for the performance numbers are defined for every technical requirement. These parameters are determined by practical tests with the selected components.
The hood performance numbers for the global stiffness, the denting behaviour and the pedestrian protection are summarised in the according values FST, FBP and FPP called `Funktionsgüten´ (performance quality) by using weighting factors. In order to eliminate the different numerical values of the performance numbers a correlation table is used. Based on the three `Funktionsgüten´ the `Leichtbaugüte´ (lightweight quality) of a hood LH is generated considering the mass of the component and a further weighting factor. The performance numbers for bumpers and B-pillars are developed with regard to the energy absorption and intrusion mainly. Concerning the bumper the `AZT-Test´ is considered. The parameters for the B-pillar are determined using a special component test developed by the Institut für Kraftfahrwesen Aachen (ika).
The verification of the formulas and performance numbers show that a suitable comparison of the performance of body components is possible. Despite of the variety of the existing component designs and the partly empirically generated formulas the comparisons represent a good approximation. For the practical application of the performance numbers the weighting factors can be adapted individually. In the component development process further engineering steps including the digitising and simulation of the body components can be added.