Abstract
Due to the reengineering process in the automotive industry, development times are shortened and prototype testing is reduced. CA-methods are needed for an effective design process. Especially, as the safety demands on components are continuously increasing.
In August 1995, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revised the interior head im-pact regulations, published in the FMVSS 201. Safety requirements are presented for the impact of a featureless Hybrid III headform on upperbody interior trim. To meet this new standard, the design of interior trim parts, as headers, side rails and pillar trims, has to be improved.
This paper shows how finite element simulation contributes to the design process of interior trims.
Numerical simulation is performed in a three stage process. Firstly, the areas critical for meeting the regulations are detected. Then, the needed packaging space is defined. Finally, the design of interior trim and additional energy absorbing components is optimized.