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The present analysis concerns collapse behavior of vehicles under the quasi-static loading condition as analysis for the initial stage of conceptual design. Collapse analysis of a vehicle model with the space-framed structure is carried out using finite element limit analysis. To improve collapse response and strengthen weak parts, the dimension of the section and the position of the frame are locally changed as design parameters. The results demonstrates that the present analysis can easily predict weak parts of the structure and the change of design parameters enhances the load-carrying capacity of vehicle structures and reduces the deflection toward the passenger compartment.

Structure-occupant related method, which uses some structural analysis results for inputs of occupant simulation, has being used widely even if it is difficult to describe real crash precisely. The method is not proper to simulate complex situation such as an occupant behavior restrained with air bag in out-of-position impact. A structure-occupant integrated method is needed to analyze these sophisticated problems in the early stage of design. Therefore, Hyundai Motor Co. tried to develop the method, and the process is described in this paper. The integrated vehicle model includes Hybrid III dummy, air bag, seat belt and interior detail models. The interior detail models are instrument panel, knee bolsters, steering wheel and column, and seats. The part models were compared with the part test results and they were merged into larger models only if they passed correlation test.