This work presents a novel method for designing crashworthy structures with controlled energy absorption based on the use of compliant mechanisms. This method helps in introducing flexibility at desired locations within the structure, which in turn reduces the peak force at the expense of a reasonable increase in intrusion. For this purpose, the given design domain is divided into two subdomains: flexible (FSD) and stiff (SSD) subdomains. The design in the flexible subdomain is governed by the compliant mechanism synthesis approach for which output ports are defined at the interface between the two subdomains. These output ports aid in defining potential load paths and help the user make better use of a given design space. The design in the stiff subdomain is governed by the principle of a fully stressed design for which material is distributed to achieve uniform energy distribution within the design space. Together, FSD and SSD provide for a combination of flexibility and stiffness in the structure, which is desirable for most crash applications.
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September 2013
Research-Article
Design of Crashworthy Structures With Controlled Energy Absorption in the Hybrid Cellular Automaton Framework
Punit Bandi,
Punit Bandi
1
e-mail: bandi.punit@gmail.com
1Corresponding author.
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James P. Schmiedeler,
James P. Schmiedeler
Associate Professor
Mem. ASME
e-mail: schmiedeler.4@nd.edu
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical
Engineering,
Mem. ASME
e-mail: schmiedeler.4@nd.edu
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical
Engineering,
University of Notre Dame
,Notre Dame, IN 46556
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Andrés Tovar
Andrés Tovar
Assistant Professor
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University Indianapolis,
e-mail: tovara@iupui.edu
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Indiana University Purdue
University Indianapolis,
Indianapolis, IN 46202
e-mail: tovara@iupui.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Punit Bandi
e-mail: bandi.punit@gmail.com
James P. Schmiedeler
Associate Professor
Mem. ASME
e-mail: schmiedeler.4@nd.edu
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical
Engineering,
Mem. ASME
e-mail: schmiedeler.4@nd.edu
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical
Engineering,
University of Notre Dame
,Notre Dame, IN 46556
Andrés Tovar
Assistant Professor
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University Indianapolis,
e-mail: tovara@iupui.edu
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Indiana University Purdue
University Indianapolis,
Indianapolis, IN 46202
e-mail: tovara@iupui.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Design Automation Committee of ASME for publication in the Journal of Mechanical Design. Manuscript received May 18, 2012; final manuscript received May 11, 2013; published online July 2, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Shinji Nishiwaki.
J. Mech. Des. Sep 2013, 135(9): 091002 (11 pages)
Published Online: July 2, 2013
Article history
Received:
May 18, 2012
Revision Received:
May 11, 2013
Citation
Bandi, P., Schmiedeler, J. P., and Tovar, A. (July 2, 2013). "Design of Crashworthy Structures With Controlled Energy Absorption in the Hybrid Cellular Automaton Framework." ASME. J. Mech. Des. September 2013; 135(9): 091002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024722
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