f HE CRUSH and impact characteristics of the HCB Angus
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cab (launched at the recent Harrogate show) were successfully predicted by computer programme, according to the vehicle structures group of the School of Automotive Studies at Cranfield.
The group carried out analyses of the structure for a roof corner crush test, a front corner pendulum test and a door intrusion test. Calculations showed the need for modifications to the original design and these were incor porated in the structure before the tests, In each case, a very close agreement was obtained between the theoretical behaviour of the structure and the test results, both in the load sustained and the deformation.
Cranfield claims that the analyses has probably saved the company the cost of several prototype cabs.
The group is also working on a programme to predict the behaviour of bus and coach structures under roll-over 'conditions.
Appropriately called CRASHD, the computer programmes can deal with either elastic analyses for normal strength and stiffness calculations or plastic and collapse analyses for ensuring that structures will pass impact legislation with the minimum of testing.
Cranfield has said that the expertise gained is available to manufacturers of other types of specialist vehicles. The group is willing to undertake confidential design or analysis contracts.