Abstract

The aim of this paper is to enhance crashworthiness in the case of vehicle-to-barrier full frontal collision using vehicle dynamics control systems integrated with an extendable bumper. The work carried out in this paper includes developing and analysinganew vehicle dynamics/crash mathematical model and a multi-body occupant mathematical model. The firstmodel integrates a vehicle dynamics model with the vehicle’s front-end structure to define the vehicle’sbody crash kinematic parameters. In this model, the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the active suspension control system (ASC) are co-simulated, and its associated equations of motion are developed. The second model is used to capture the occupant kinematics during full-frontal collision. The numerical simulations show that in the case of using the extendable bumper,the crash energy absorbed is considerable compared totraditional structure. Therefore, the minimum vehicle crumble zone’s deformation is obtained when the ABS alongside under pitch control (UPC) is applied with the extendable bumper. The minimum pitch angle of the vehicle body and acceleration are obtained when the ABS alongside UPC technique is applied without the extendable bumper.The occupant deceleration and the occupant's chest and head rotational acceleration are used as injury criteria. The longitudinal displacement and acceleration of the occupant is extremely decreased when the extendable bumperisused. It is also shown that the VDCS can affect the crash characteristics and the occupant safety positively,whereasthe rotations angle and acceleration of the occupant chest and head are significantly reduced.