SASTech - Technical Journal of RUAS
  • Year: 2011
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2

Prediction of car fuel tank behavior under rear impact by a moving deformable barrier

  • Author:
  • Shree Harsha1, S. Srikari2, M.L.J Suman3
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 51 to 55

1M. Sc. [Engg.] Student, Department of AAE, M. S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 560 058

2Professor, Department of AAE, M. S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 560 058

3Lecturer, Department of AAE, M. S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 560 058

Online published on 18 February, 2020.

Abstract

This study was aimed at predicting the behaviour of car fuel tank when hit by a moving deformable barrier from rear as per FMVSS301 which forms base solution. The results are compared with two other cases i.e. variable tank thickness and with inclusion of RUPD. This study was opted since 25% of the total accidents happen due to rear impacts which are 25% of total fatalities in addition to this the 16% result in fire hazards is due to the impact on the fuel system of car since tank is mounted at rear of the car.

As a base solution, the behaviour of tank was studied when vehicle was hit by a moving deformable barrier (MDB) from rear at 80km/h, which represents a medium weight vehicle of moderate stiffness to simulate real world crash situations. The important parameters being studied under crash were internal energy, displacements and plastic strain which influence the failure in fuel integrity. Later, different concepts of Rear underrun protection guard (RUPD) were proposed and one out of those was validated and chosen. Its effect on the three main parameters was studied and the results were compared with proper interpretations. In addition to this, the effect of variation of fuel tank thickness was studied and results were compared with base solution with proper interpretations.

Compared to base solution, better results were found when tank thickness was increased to 6mm and 7mm. When base solution was compared with inclusion of RUPD to car, results were further improved interms of parameters like internal energy, displacement and plastic strain. Inclusion of RUPD to car was better solution to improve fuel integrity when compared to variable tank thickness as increasing the tank thickness won't add engineering value addition and also the fact that varying the tank thickness has cost and manufacturing implications. Compared to base solution, present results show that with inclusion of RUPD, the energy absorption capacity of tank improved by 56%.

Keywords

RUPD, Internal Energy, Plastic Strain, Fuel Integrity