APPLICATION OF THE GENERALIZED MIXING KINEMATIC MODEL TO THE CALCULATION OF CRUSHING RESPONSE OF COMPLEX PRISMATIC SECTIONS

Impact behaviour of vehicles can be conveniently studied by means of h ybrid numerical models using equivalent elements such as bars and non- linear springs. Wierzbicki and Abramowicz proposed a kinematic model f or calculating the average and instantaneous crushing force for these macro elements. An equally simple model for the pre-collapse phase was developed by Huang and Wierzbicki. Our objective in the present paper is to determine the entire crushing characteristic of prismatic membe rs consisting of plates with different wall thickness. Several example s are worked out in which comparisons with FE calculations and experim ental results are made.