A numerical study of occupant responses and injuries in vehicular crashes into roadside barriers based on finite element simulations

Occupant responses and injuries are important considerations in the design and assessment of roadside safety devices such as barriers. Although incorporating occupant responses and injuries into the design of safety devices is highly recommended by the current safety regulations, there are limited studies that directly consider occupant responses and injuries. Crash test dummies are seldom equipped in the state-of-the-art crash testing of roadside barriers and thus occupant responses and injury risks are evaluated primarily based on vehicle responses. In the present work, occupant responses and injuries in automotive crash events were investigated by incorporating crash test dummies into the vehicle model that was used in the finite element (FE) simulations of roadside crashes. The FE models of a Ford F250 pickup truck and a Hybrid III 50th percentile crash test dummy were employed and a passive restraint system was developed in the FE model. The FE model was validated using existing experiments including a sled test and a full-frontal impact test. Simulations of the Ford F250 impacting a concrete barrier and a W-beam guardrail were conducted and the occupant responses were analyzed. Furthermore, occupant injuries were quantitatively estimated using occupant injury criteria based directly on dummy responses and compared to those based solely on vehicle responses. The correlations between vehicle responses and occupant injuries were studied.     

高速公路护栏的冲击动力学分析有限元模型

为了对高速公路护栏系统开展全面的冲击动力学分析及其优化设计,建立了高速公路波形梁护栏系统受冲击荷载作用的有限元模型,并对建立的护栏系统模型进行了合理性的检验.采用FEMB软件作为前处理软件,首先根据行业规范建立起包含波形护栏梁、防阻块以及立柱的护栏系统有限元模型,将建立好的三跨缩比护栏系统的有限元模型在冲击条件下与相应的冲击试验进行对比分析,检验了模型的有效性.由于真实护栏系统是多跨连续的,通过对比不同跨数的模型在冲击条件下的结果,确定了足够反映真实多跨连续护栏的合理跨数.结果表明,建立的有限元模型可准确有效地反映真实护栏系统的特性,可用于护栏系统的冲击动力学分析及其优化设计.     

冰雪天气下高速公路可变限速控制研究

为保障冰雪天气条件下高速公路的行车安全与通行效率,在建立安全限速模型与交通流预测模型的基础上,提出一种基于粒子群优化算法的可变限速控制策略;首先,通过分析冰雪天气下车辆制动性能和交通流演化规律,提出适用于冰雪天气条件的高速公路安全限速模型以及交通流预测模型;其次,设计了兼顾通行效率与行车安全的优化目标函数,并考虑实际行车需求给出相关约束条件;最后,基于交通流预测模型并结合粒子群优化算法对可变限速值进行求解,并通过搭建的元胞自动机交通流模型将所提出的可变限速策略的控制效果与固定限速方案和分段安全限速方案进行对比仿真实验;仿真结果表明,相比于固定限速方案,可变限速控制减少了总行程时间、总行程延误时间和车辆冲突时间;相比于分段安全限速方案,可变限速控制有效减小了管控路段内的车辆行驶速度标准差,总行程延误时间和车辆冲突暴露时间也有所降低,验证了所提出可变限速控制策略的有效性。     

Integrated design technique for materials and structures of vehicle body under crash safety considerations

With the rapid development of the vehicle industry, crashworthiness has become a crucial aspect in vehicle body design. In fact, crashworthiness is a multivariable optimization design problem for a vehicle body, regardless of structure or material. However, when crashworthiness involves a large number of design variables, including both material and structure variables, it is more difficult to deal with. In this paper, an integrated design technique for materials and structures of vehicle body under crash safety consideration is suggested. First, a finite element model of the vehicle body is established according to relevant vehicle safety standards. Then, the material parameters of the vehicle body are set as analytical factors for factor screening. Next, significant factors are obtained using a three-level saturated design integrated with multi-index comprehensive balance analysis and the MaxUr ⁽³⁾ method, with an improved evaluation method. These screened material parameters along with the corresponding continuous variables of the structure, are considered as the design variables of the integrated design of the vehicle body. Both the weight and the crashworthiness properties are set as the design objectives. Optimal Latin hypercube sampling and radius basis functions are utilized to construct highly accurate surrogate models. Furthermore, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II is implemented to seek the optimal solutions. Finally, two cases considering the roof module and the frontal module of a vehicle body are analyzed to verify the proposed method.     

某电动汽车驾驶员座椅后横梁平台化开发

针对电动汽车地板下方无法布置横梁、纵梁等结构,导致地板刚度较差的问题,在对比传统车型座椅横梁结构的基础上,提出一种贯穿式驾驶员座椅横梁结构。从刚度、模态、碰撞安全性能等角度出发,对座椅横梁结构进行优化设计。经有限元分析验证,优化后横梁结构在满足各项性能要求的同时可加工性也较好。该方法可为电动车座椅横梁平台化开发提供参考。     

复合材料磁悬浮列车车体结构数值模拟(III)——车体结构性能的参数化数值模拟

在磁悬浮列车车体参数化数值模型的基础上,开展参数变化对车体结构性能影响的数值试验,研究复合材料梁截面几何参数对车体刚度和频率的影响。在典型荷载工况下,研究关键设计参数对车体结构性能、结构部件连接模型的力学性能、车体频率和振型、车体结构线性屈曲性能的影响,确定关键设计参数对复合材料车体结构性能的影响趋势,为车体优化设计奠定基础,验证将参数化车体数值模型作为车体结构性能研究的有效性。     

基于隐式参数化的车身多学科轻量化设计

为实现整车综合性能的快速方案验证和优化设计,在新车型设计阶段构建车身隐式参数化模型,并对其进行模态、刚度和安全等综合性能计算,验证参数化模型的有效性。基于灵敏度分析、试验设计（design of experiments, DOE）方法和近似模型优化等策略,对某白车身进行多学科轻量化设计。优化设计结果表明,白车身的模态、刚度和安全性能均满足设计要求。     

车载雷达防追尾预警系统中的目标跟踪研究

考虑毫米波雷达测量的误差和噪声的存在,为了提高毫米波雷达汽车防追尾预警系统的可靠性,设计了一个多模型算法实现对机动车辆的准确跟踪。针对汽车在高速公路上最常见的匀速、匀加速及转弯运动模型进行仿真实验,结果表明该算法能够有效地跟踪前方行驶车辆,探知自车与前车之间距离信息、速度信息等,从而降低雷达虚警率。     

基于概念设计的框架车身多目标优化系统

为实现概念设计阶段车身结构和性能的快速优化,构建多工况、多目标优化系统FVO,其中包括车身几何建模、有限元分析、结构优化等。该系统可以快速建立参数化框架车身几何模型,自动生成满足多工况要求的高精度有限元模型,利用多目标优化算法对车身的梁和板结构进行多工况优化计算,为用户提供满足众多约束条件的优化设计方案。在阐述FVO系统整体结构和具体方法的基础上,通过简单设计实例证明系统的有效性和准确性。     

高速列车车体端部防撞装置拓扑优化设计

针对高速列车的被动安全性,基于大变形碰撞仿真理论,用PAM CRASH进行碰撞仿真,用OptiStruct对车体端部防撞装置进行拓扑优化,从而完成防撞装置的轻量化设计.结果表明：在保证防撞装置结构稳定性的同时,最大撞击力减小23%,质量减轻33.6%,达到提高车辆被动安全性的目的.     

基于正碰CAE分析的车身纵梁结构优化设计

对某车型进行50 km/h、100%正面碰撞CAE仿真分析,发现车身前纵梁溃缩变形不充分,导致B柱加速度峰值超过45g目标要求。对前纵梁结构和前防撞梁吸能盒进行优化,由CAE分析可知：车身前纵梁结构变形得到明显改善,B柱加速度峰值降低到45g以下,满足目标要求。该优化可有效提高车身正面碰撞的安全性能。     

考虑能见度影响的公路隧道照明动态优化与智能控制

为解决不同能见度影响下公路隧道实际路面亮度变化过大以及由此引起的行车安全与能源虚耗问题, 本文提出了一种能够改善公路隧道照明环境的动态优化与智能控制方法. 首先, 通过对不同时空条件下的公路隧道进行现场试验和数据分析, 得到了隧道内能见度的变化规律; 其次, 在公路隧道传统照明设计的基础上考虑能见度对照明环境的影响, 建立了基于隧道内能见度、交通量、车速、路面亮度和照明亮度的按需照明与动态优化模型;随后, 以不同地区公路隧道的实测数据为样本, 结合划分出的公路隧道典型照明场景和模糊径向基神经网络算法构建了公路隧道照明智能控制模型, 最后, 通过仿真实验验证了所构建模型的有效性, 其结果表明, 本文所提出的优化控制方法能够在保证隧道照明安全性的前提下兼顾节能性.     

Simulation of motorcyclist's kinematics during impact with W-Beam guardrail

W-Beam guardrail system has been in use as a standard for roadside safety barrier since 1950s. Recently, its safety performance standard has been upgraded to absorb impact from large vehicles. This performance standard requires guardrail system to be capable of capturing and redirecting a large range of vehicle types and sizes but its effects on safety of motorcyclists are not yet understood.The paper describes a three-dimensional computer simulation of the kinematics impact of motorcycle and dummy rider with W-Beam guardrail inclined at angles 45 and 90° to the initial direction of travel. The simulation is based on the test procedure recommended by ISO 13232 on the configurations for motorcycle–car impact. The focus of this study is not on the motorcycle change in velocity, but on the rider's kinematics and acceleration vs. time history.Multibody model of motorcycle and finite element model of guardrail were developed in commercially available software. The simulation results are presented in this paper in form of kinematics and acceleration vs. time history.     

Preference-based topology optimization for vehicle concept design with concurrent static and crash load cases

In the simulation-based design process of automotive structures, an increasing amount of multi-disciplinary requirements have to be considered. Methods of topology optimization can be used to devise structural concepts early in the design process to obtain the best possible structural layout as starting point for further development steps. Especially relevant for the vehicle design process is the concurrent consideration of static load requirements representing normal operating conditions and energy absorption requirements targeting passive safety in crash events. When the disciplines are considered separately, the heuristic Hybrid Cellular Automaton topology optimization is a suitable method. However, in practical applications, both disciplines are usually addressed sequentially. This complicates the overall process and may reduce the quality of the final optimization result, since optimization objectives may be conflicting. We propose a preference-based Scaled Energy Weighting approach to address the topology optimization of both disciplines concurrently. The main idea is to decouple the user preference from the scaling of the different magnitudes of energies. This enables a multi-objective optimization and ultimately the selection of the desired trade-off solution. We first validate the capability of the method to provide structures optimized for stiffness and energy absorption objectives on beam examples. Finally, the method is applied to optimize a concept structure of an industrial vehicle body, demonstrating its practical feasibility.     

Load distribution on highway bridges using ICES-STRUDL finite element analysis

The development of refined finite element models for the analysis of a concrete slab on steel beam highway bridges is presented in this paper. This paper summarizes the process by which a refined finite element analysis was applied to bridge superstructures using ICES-STRUDL. This process will assist bridge engineers and researchers in predicting the actual stress distribution and evaluating the load transfer to beams from designed vehicle loads on highway bridges.     

Multiobjective optimization design for vehicle occupant restraint system under frontal impact

Occupant Restraint System (ORS) can effectively protect passengers from severe injury in vehicle collision, thus its design signifies a key issue in automobile engineering. To ensure a high safety rating, e.g. five or at least four stars in the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro-NCAP) rating system, which has been widely used to rate the different vehicles from different manufacturers, design optimization becomes essential. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of conventional mathematical programming methods directly integrated with numerical simulation and sensitivity analysis for optimization is of limited practical value, due to high complexity of structures, nonlinearity of materials and deformation involved. To address the issue, this paper combines a Kriging (KRG) model with Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) for vehicle ORS design. The ORS design of a 40% Offset Deformable Barrier (ODB) frontal impact test with the collision speed of 64 km/h is exemplified for the presented method. The results show that the KRG model can well predict the ORS responses for the design. Finally, the optimum result is verified by using sled physical tests. It is found that the ORS performance can be substantially improved for meeting product development requirements through the proposed approach.     

Toward AI-enabled augmented reality to enhance the safety of highway work zones: Feasibility,requirements, and challenges

Highway work zones are considered among the most hazardous working environments. In 2018 alone, 124 workers lost their lives to fatal accidents. The lack of predictive safety systems that notify workers of upcoming dangers in advance is a major reason to blame in the highway maintenance and operation community. This article presents an integrative design framework for bringing recent advances in Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the safety of highway workers through real-time multimodal notifications on-spot. To this end, this article conceptualizes and co-designs three major pillars: (1) AR user interface design for multimodal notification, (2) real-time AI at the edge for vehicle detection/classification from distance, and (3) real-time wireless communication in work zone setting to enable latency-aware operation between AI and AR components. Our early results demonstrate that we can achieve 24.83 FPS end-to-end execution latency on the Xavier AGX Jetson board with 48.7% mAP on BDD100K dataset, and a real-time communication covering 120 meters with an average latency of 5.1 ms at the farthest distance. Our mixed-method user research also reveals an acceptable level of excitement and engagement from the body of highway workers toward both the proposed technology and the designed user interface. Overall, this article provides a proof-of-concept toward AI-enabled AR safety systems in highway work zones.     

模糊控制方法

通过对高速公路上同向同车道前后两车的行车状况和车辆制动减速过程的分析,建立高速公路不同车速差和行车间距时的高速公路汽车追尾数学模型,为高速公路追尾碰撞预防报警系统的研究提供依据。     

汽车平台架构开发过程中安全性能的设计和仿真

为实现汽车平台化开发策略,在平台内不同车型间最大程度共用底盘、下部车身、动力总成、电器架构和内饰骨架等部件,探索碰撞安全平台化设计的思路和方法。在对国内外安全法规和标准发展趋势分析的基础上,制定平台安全性能目标和开发策略。正向开发搭建完整的汽车平台框架结构,应用CAE仿真分析进行平台内车型碰撞安全性能的设计优化,最终达成平台安全性能开发的目标要求。在此基础上总结整理碰撞安全平台化开发设计流程,供后续平台开发项目参考。     

集中质量-弹簧碰撞模型在汽车被动安全预研阶段的应用

为在车身开发的概念设计阶段明确车辆前碰的安全性目标加速度波形,提出以乘员伤害值确定整车正面碰撞波形的方法,建立包括驾乘人员的车辆集中质量-弹簧(Lumped Mass-Spring,LMS)模型.为确保LMS模型的有效性,将整车有限元模型仿真结果与运动学特性计算结果对比.通过对比前碰加速度波形、刚性墙力以及前舱总的压溃位移,对LMS模型的有效性进行验证.以乘员胸部的乘约效率为优化目标,基于已验证的LMS模型进行关键参数的试验设计分析,从而为车辆前结构的碰撞安全性能设计提供参考.