Composite Subcomponents Crash Testing
After materials test and analysis, the next level of the Building Block approach is focused on design, analysis, development and test of sub-component (and component) structures. Subcomponents are generally envisioned to be more simple than the production realistic components, but to include the key features in terms of size and shape.
Such structures are used to demonstrate crush characteristics, structural integrity of the back-up structure, and resistance to intrusion. Proposed safety specifications may be developed for both analysis (using computational simulation) and testing of structural integrity, local damage or structural collapse. In addition, the performance of composite subcomponents can be compared to the baseline performance of equivalent metallic structures.
The advantage of using subcomponents is the low cost and ability to validate performance of specific attributes by suppressing the variabilities associated with the more complete structural assemblies.
If a number of repeat tests are conducted the opportunity of utilising statistical analysis to understand uncertainties can be pivotal for increasing the confidence in the higher levels of the building block based on analytical results. It is this information that links the material crush test data and the static material properties which can usefully determine the limits of manufacturing variability which is acceptable in the real world components.
Engenuity’s expert personnel play an important role constructing suitable subcomponent tests to validate computational simulations in multiple loading scenarios and environmental conditions, which demonstrate the performance of subcomponents under critical loading conditions.