Citation

Hahn W. AutoTechnol. 2006; 6(Aug): 52-55.

Affiliation

Opel Automobile Company

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, International Federation of Automobile Engineers' and Technicians' Associations, Publisher Vieweg und Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The development of front-end architecture with the aim of meeting demands to conserve natural raw materials, reduce emissions and provide a high level of crash protection in modern vehicles is discussed. A front impact with full overlap against a rigid barrier and an offset front impact are architectural driving load cases for front impact development. The primary focus of the offset test is to reduce the risk of occupant injury caused by intrusions, while the test relating to full frontal impact against a rigid barrier is principally designed to reduce injuries caused by high deceleration. Considered together, these tests are technically challenging because the first requires high front structure stiffness to ensure structural stability, while the second calls for lower regidity with the aim of limiting the crash impulses. A new form of dialogues that also takes account of interactions must be found, so that effective decisions concerning future crash requirements can be made.