Drop-Test Simulations to Investigate Collision Characteristics of Automobile Center-Pillar Structures According to Partial Quenching Area

Abstract

Development of environment-friendly materials to improve the safety and fuel efficiency of automobiles has attracted great research attention with regards to the automobile industry in recent years. With increase in demand for technological developments to improve performance and efficiency, an increased number of researches are being performed concerning the use of advanced high-strength steel in parts manufactured by means of the hot-press forming process. Furthermore, research concerning the improvement in fuel efficiency through additional weight reduction using tailor-welded blanks (TWBs) and partial quenching (PQ) has gained popularity in the automobile industry in recent times. Many car components are, nowadays, being fabricated using different materials to improve collision toughness and safety in the event of a car crash. However, no standard has yet been established to evaluate the replacement of automobile parts, and such a standard must account for mechanical properties of the material under tensile and flexural loadings. A car crash test was conducted at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to evaluate automobile safety. However, collision-toughness evaluation of each car component is expensive and difficult to realize. In this study, drop tests were simulated, and collision characteristics of the center-pillar were correspondingly evaluated. Values of fracture toughness were compared in accordance with center-pillar types for evaluating collision-test conditions.