Technical Paper
Development of a Structural Magnesium Instrument Panel
2004-03-08
2004-01-1486
The development of a structural magnesium instrument panel (IP) beam is presented in this paper. This magnesium IP was designed to be a structural load bearing member in a crash event. Unlike many IPs in production today, this IP helps mid-engine vehicles achieve certain FMVSS 208, US NCAP, IIHS and OEM standards for occupant crash protection. In typical front engine vehicles, the front-end structure absorbs the crash energy with the sandwiched engine acting as rigid body to resist the crash loads and intrusion into passenger compartment. However, in mid engine vehicles, the front-end structure is inadequate to fully absorb the crash energy and at the same time resist intrusion. Without a structural IP beam to resist crash loads, it is unlikely that mid engine vehicles can successfully meet the FMVSS 208, US NCAP, IIHS and OEM standards for occupant crash protection. With that in mind, this magnesium IP was designed as a structural load-bearing member.