Experimental and finite element nonlinear dynamics analysis of formula SAE impact attenuator

Energy absorption and weight are major concerns in the design of an impact attenuator. To reduce the costs involved in the design and development of a new attenuator, it is important to minimise the time spent in the development and testing phase. The aim of this paper is to report on a study that used computer dynamic simulation to analyse the energy absorption and damage in a new impact attenuator. All initial requirements of the new attenuator were set in accordance with the 2011 Formula SAE rules. In this study, a nonlinear dynamic finite element was used to simulate an FSAE impact attenuator crash against a rigid barrier. Geometrical and material nonlinearities were performed using ABAQUS/Explicit commercial code. The numerical model was verified by experimental tests. Agreement between the numerical simulations and the test results showed that finite element analysis could be used effectively to predict the energy absorption and damage performance of an impact attenuator.