Application of Shell Elements to Create Advanced Finite Element Model for Offset Deformable Barrier

Crash test barriers have been used to assess crashworthiness characteristics of passenger vehicles. Different barriers are employed to examine specific aspects of car structures within certain impact conditions. This paper demonstrates a methodology to create finite element model for Offset Deformable Barrier (ODB) that is used in frontal crash tests. The model is generated using shell elements in LS-DYNA to configure aluminium honeycomb sections. A generic Y cross-section is initially devolved and validated by component test results predict crush behaviour of honeycomb blocks and establish material data before they are used in ODB model. A series of full-scale physical tests has been designed and performed to verify the accuracy of the new FE model for ODB. The model is subjected to four tests with individual boundary conditions and impact speeds while numerical and visual data from CAE are correlated against experiments. The results from FE analysis offer precise correlations with test data and the model has been able to capture detailed deformation patterns for each test setup.