Modeling of a Cast Aluminium Wheel for Crash Application

The modeling of wheels might have a strong influence on the vehicle response in crash simulation. The present work is about the development of a predictive cast aluminium wheel model for crash application. Coupons were directly extracted from the rim, spokes and the hub regions and experimental tensile and pressure tests were carried out to determine the material properties. The damage model GISSMO (Generalized Incremental Stress-State dependent damage Model), has been used in the material modeling to take into account the accumulation of damage, the influence of triaxiality and the mesh size dependency. Finally, the finite element model of the wheel has been validated thanks to component crash test. After some considerations about the appropriate element formulation for solids, the final simulation results are good correlated to experimental dynamic test in terms of load-displacement and failure modes