A new vehicle body structure was developed that reduced pedestrian head injury in traffic accidents. The structure was developed to be incorporated into mass production car models. Examples and performance of the structure are given in this paper. In this paper the application area of vehicle and injury criteria, is described. During development, it is necessary to find control of load characteristic especially at the place that cannot make long stroke. The difference of each structure arrived to make some kind of pattern of energy absorb structure. The next problem was to satisfy another basic performance of the body structure, for example panel stiffness, noise vibration. Generally, automotive engineers focus their efforts on increasing body strength in order to improve body performance. The new structures were developed to satisfy the target for energy absorption characteristics, and also provide a sufficient level of body strength. This paper was also published separately by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), see IRRD E101003.
Abstract