Projeto de um atenuador de impacto para um veículo tipo Formula SAE pelo método de elementos finitos

Abstract

The development of safety devices in the automotive field, such as impact attenuators used in Formula SAE vehicles, has become essential to ensure driver safety and enhance the structural performance of the vehicle. This work presents the design and numerical validation of an impact attenuator made of Divinycell [trade mark] 60 PVC foam, a material known for its lightness and high energy absorption capacity. The study was guided by the need to obtain an efficient and cost-effective alternative to the standard model provided by the competition, based on experimental characterizations and numerical simulations. The methodology was divided into two main stages: material characterization and computational simulation. The characterization was carried out in accordance with ASTM D1621, through compression tests on ten specimens. The simulation was developed using ANSYS [trade mark] 2023R2 software, applying the Finite Element Method (FEM) in an explicit transient dynamic analysis, considering the impact conditions established by the Formula SAE regulations (mass of 300 kg and velocity of 7 m/s). The results showed that the Divinycell [trade mark] H60 foam exhibits excellent performance for application in Formula SAE impact attenuators, combining efficiency in impact energy absorption, lightness, and safety. Furthermore, the use of FEM proved to be an effective tool for improving the design, allowing the prediction of the material’s structural behavior prior to manufacturing.