Design of various vehicle safety components Research Paper

Design of various vehicle safety components - Research Paper Example 1. Bumper Bumpers are the front-most and the rear-most parts of a vehicle. In most collisions, bumpers are the first point of contact for a vehicle. The bumper generally consists of a plastic cover over a reinforcement bar made of steel, aluminum, fiberglass or plastic. The bumper bar and its attachment are designed to crush in a low-speed crash to absorb energy. In some cases, polypropylene foam or formed thermoplastic is used in addition to or instead of crushable brackets and a bar. This allows for even more absorption of energy. By absorbing energy and getting crushed, the bumper creates inelastic collision by reducing the transfer of kinetic energy. The recent trend in bumper design, however, is related more to the pedestrian safety. 2. Crumple zones in cars Crumple zones are parts of the car that are designed to deform and crumple during collisions, thereby absorbing energy. These parts are typically in the front part of the vehicle, although they may also be in other parts of the vehicle. Crumple zones accomplish two safety goals: they reduce the initial force of crash and they redistribute the force before it reaches the passenger cabin. Crumple zones reduce the initial force of impact by creating a buffer perimeter around the most rigid parts of the car (engine and cabin).