Structural design optimization for bus to satisfy frontal safety

Abstract

Based on standards ECE R94, ECE R66, a finite element model of bus has been developed and simulated to analyse of the front structural safety of the bus when frontal impact happens. An optimized design for bus structure was conducted in accordance with the FEM frontal impact analysis results. Orthogonal design method was used to set up the experimental scheme on the structure of the bus body with different thicknesses of steel tubes then. A series of simulation studies on bus structure to satisfy frontal safety was conducted. By doing the regression analysis of the simulation results by SPSS software, regression functions were established, and then the design variables were maintained by MATLAB software. The results showed that the acceleration and driver living space satisfy frontal safety conditions, while the total weight of optimized bus structures was decreased by 7.9%.