Energy absorption in aluminum extrusions for a spaceframe chassis
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Pleasanton, CA (United States)
This work describes the design, finite-element analysis, and verifications performed by LLNL and Kaiser Aluminum for the prototype design of the CALSTART Running Chassis purpose-built electric vehicle. Component level studies, along with our previous experimental and finite-element works, provided the confidence to study the crashworthiness of a complete aluminum spaceframe. Effects of rail geometry, size, and thickness were studied in order to achieve a controlled crush of the front end structure. These included the performance of the spaceframe itself, and the additive effects of the powertrain cradle and powertrain (motor/controller in this case) as well as suspension. Various design iterations for frontal impact at moderate and high speed are explored.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 110736
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-119956; CONF-950455-2; ON: DE95017861; TRN: 95:007238
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 9. international conference on vehicle structural mechanics and computer-aided engineering, Troy, MI (United States), 4-6 Apr 1995; Other Information: PBD: 19 Sep 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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