Collapse analysis of auto-body structures considering the effect of fabrication

Abstract

This paper is concerned with a collapse analysis for auto-body structures considering the effect of fabrication. Numerical simulation is carried out with a finite element limit analysis in order to identify forming effects on collapse behavior of an auto-body structure such as an S-rail. The formed S-rail contains fabrication histories such as residual stress, work hardening, non-uniform thickness distribution and geometric changes resulted from the forming process. The collapse analysis of an S-rail with forming effects leads to different results from that without such effects. The present study deals with the collapse analysis of the S-rail fabricated with the typical forming, trimming and springback processes. Collapse properties such as the collapse load, the collapse mode and the energy absorption are calculated and investigated in order to identify forming effects. It is fully demonstrated that the design of auto-body structures needs to consider the forming effects for proper assessment of load-carrying capacity and deformation of the formed structures.