The distribution of energy absorbed by a three-spoke steering wheel armature in an impact with a deformable chestform

This research deals with experimental and finite element simulation of impa cts occurring between a deformable chestform and an aluminium three-spoke s teering wheel armature. Experimental testing was conducted to investigate t he effect of impact location and armature orientation on the energy-absorbi ng capabilities of the automotive component. Numerical (finite element) mod els were developed to simulate the experimental process and to investigate further how the energy absorption abilities of the armature, and specific s ections of the armature, vary with different impact situations. An excellen t correlation between the experimental testing observations and numerical s imulation results was observed for this highly non-linear problem. Most imp ortantly, the finite element simulations have illustrated that the steering wheel armature hub and rim regions are the locations where most energy. be cause of plastic deformation in the structure, is absorbed. These observati ons provide an understanding of the characteristics of energy management in crash situations for the steering wheel armature.