optimization of crush initiators on steel front rail of vehicle

this paper focuses on the optimization of initiating dimensions of groove bearing in association with de- sired design of vehicle’s front structure which is made up of low carbon steels in the case of frontal collision. axial bearing analysis is done numerically using nonlinear finite element code ls-dyna. in this analysis, changes of two main parameters including measure of energy absorption of structure and maximum force of structure collision are being considered. square structure profile is being chosen and the groves are placed on two opposite sides. tests of collision simulation are performed for steel samples and then a mathematical equation is derived next, the initiating dimensions are optimized using genetic algorithm. desired case for design of this structure part is the one which provides maximum energy absorption measure and minimum collision force in this paper, the most optimal case is an initiator with groove depth of 4.5 mm and radius of 10 mm.