Numerical-Experimental Correlation of Dynamic Test of a Honeycomb Impact Attenuator for a Formula SAE Vehicle

Abstract

A honeycomb impact attenuator for a Formula SAE (FSAE) prototype vehicle is examined using both experimental and numerical analyses. Two common FSAE impact attenuators were compared to a new design concept, combining four layers of hexagonal honeycomb. The comparison aimed to obtain the combination of the lowest mass and highest energy absorption. The attenuator must comply with both the FSAE championship rules and further internally-defined design constraints. The work continues addressing the numerical-experimental correlation of the applied materials. Finally, the finite element models for virtual crash testing are presented and were validated through the experimental tests.