Validation study of failure prediction in crash analysis

Abstract

Modeling of plastic deformation and failure is critical in crash analysis. In the present paper, we have studied one approach to represent instabilities and damage evolution in non-linear finite element analyses of forming and crash of automotive structures. Thinning instability is predicted with an anisotropic yield criterion, and failure in the material is determined with the Cockcroft-Latham criterion or a shear criterion. The model parameters have been determined through simple material tests. Experimental tests and numerical analyses of axial crushing of aluminum extrusions have been carried out, and the results were compared to evaluate the modeling approach.