Abstract
The application of alternative fuels is one of the most important challenges for the automotive industry in future. Especially the safety must be guaranteed in case of an accident with vehicles operated by hydrogen, gas or electric power. The particular properties of hydrogen, gas and batteries produce strict requirements for the construction of the tanks and their placement in the vehicle.
This study develops a method for the evaluation of the placement of tanks or batteries by using the deformation frequencies in real-world accidents. Therefore, the deformations of more than 20.000 passenger cars in the GIDAS database are analysed. For each vehicle a contour of deformation is calculated and the deformed areas of the vehicles are transferred in a rangy matrix of deformation. Thereby, the vehicle is divided into more than 190.000 cells. Afterwards, all single matrices of deformation are summarized for each cell which allows representative analyses of the deformation frequencies of accidents with passenger cars in Germany.
On the basis of these deformation frequencies it is possible to determine least deformed areas of all passenger cars. Furthermore, intended placements of tanks or batteries can be estimated in an early stage of development. Therefore, all vehicles with deformations in the intended tank areas can be analysed individually. Considering numerous parameters out of the GIDAS database (e.g. collision speed, kind of accident, overlap, collision partner etc.) the occurring forces can be calculated or the risk deformation frequency can be estimated. Furthermore, it is possible to consider the influence of primary and secondary safety systems on the deformation behaviour. The analysis of “worst case accident events” is an additional application of the calculated matrix of deformation frequency.
All in all, the presented study shows, for the first time, a method for the detailed analysis of real-world accident data concerning the deformation frequency of passenger cars. Furthermore, the study relies on an exceptional high number of vehicles and finally, the use of the GIDAS database allows representative statements for the German accident scenario.
Keywords: GIDAS, deformation frequency, alternative fuels, traffic accident, tank area