An experimental and finite element investigation into the energy absorption characteristics of a steering wheel armature in an impact

Understanding the energy absorption characteristics of automotive components is necessary for the development of safe and crashworthy vehicles. This research experimentally and numerically studies the energy absorption performance of a steering wheel armature in contact with a deformable chestform (bodyform) during a collision. Variations in the location of impact on the armature, armature orientation, and chestform impact velocity are considered to investigate how these factors affect the energy absorption characteristics of the two contacting entities. By implementing standardized testing procedures (under experimental and numerical testing methods) steering wheel armature design can be evaluated and improved on in the design stage of steering wheels. Comparisons between experimental and finite element analysis testing methods were conducted and correlated using load versus displacement profiles over the duration of impact. A good relationship between the two methods was found which allows for investigation into the energy analysis of the armature and the chestform. Experimental methods do not provide a method of determining the energy absorbed by any single entity in this “deformable to deformable” contact. The energy absorbed by both structures can be experimentally determined, however, this does not provide engineers and steering wheel designers with specific information regarding the safe design of just the steering wheel armature. Numerical simulations do provide a means of quantifying the energy absorbed by specific structures in the analysis and do significantly help in isolating the energy absorption characteristics of the steering wheel armature. The results of this research show that the steering wheel armature is responsible for the majority of energy absorbed by the impact. In addition, the percentage of energy absorbed by the armature is not significantly dependent upon the location of impact and the impact velocity.