Lightweight active and passive energy dissipation devices for enhanced and adaptable crashworthiness performance

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The proposed research program will focus on the training of highly qualified personnel to undertake unique experimental, numerical, and theoretical studies towards the development of novel and high performing adaptive structural energy absorbing devices, where the force/displacement response adjusts based upon design or as needed. Both passive and active adaptive energy dissipation structures will be engineered, fabricated, and assessed in order to provide appropriate performance data for application to many relevant fields, including but not limited to, military, aerospace, marine, automotive and personal safety equipment industries. The research team will concentrate efforts on the development of adaptive energy dissipation devices exploiting a cutting mode of deformation to maximize system performance under low and high rate compressive and tensile loading conditions. The long term objectives of this research project are to develop high performance, novel, robust, and effective energy absorbing devices so as to mitigate serious injuries or death as a result of falls, automotive crashes, pedestrian impacts, blasts, or bomb explosions in a broad range of safety applications. Experimental studies will be conducted under quasi-static, dynamic, and ballistic loading conditions and students will be utilizing state of the art equipment, including but not limited to, (1) a unique long stroke and traditional (universal) quasi-static tension/compression testing machines, (2) a droptower impact testing machine, (3) a custom built pneumatic cannon and barrier and (4) a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus. Collaborative efforts with researchers at the University of Cape Town (South Africa), will provide the opportunity to test both active and passive energy dissipation systems using a ballistic pendulum. Quantification of the deformation characteristics and performance of the energy absorbers will occur through the use of transducers, high speed photography and digital image analysis software, as well as optical strain measurement systems (using both low and high speed cameras). Training of students in the development of high-quality, verified and validated numerical models will also be a focus of the proposed research. Large deformation, high strain rate finite element models employing both traditional Lagrangian element formulations and non-traditional Eulerian, smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH), element free Galerkin (EFG) and smoothed particle Galerkin (SPG) formulations will be utilized in the advancement of the applicant's previously developed engineering models for deformation simulation of the proposed structural energy dissipation devices. Analytical models will also be advanced and extended for prediction of device performance and enhancement. Support from the proposed research grant will provide assistance to train highly qualified personnel and conduct research in the development of these superior energy dissipation devices.