Masters Thesis

Low speed crash resilience of a lightweight vehicle

Recumbent vehicles are a growing means of transport in today's green energy society. This need is expanded by the comfort and ability for recumbent tricycles to carry a rider longer distances without fatigue due to its relaxed seating position.The safety of a recumbent tricycle is an area to be addressed with the rising number of commuters using this means of transport.While amongst larger and quicker vehicles sharing the same roads a secure safety shell can prove to be resilient against a low speed collision with another vehicle or other objects as well as give aerodynamic advantages. The largest concern to riders is being injured by the acceleration imparted onto the rider as well as the amount of structure that comes in contact with the body upon impact. A study done involving the optimization of a lightweight composite structure is evaluated as to not inhibit the rider in his function while providing safety in collisions. This structure utilizes the benefits of carbon fiber, honeycomb sub structure and a spring damper mounting system to lower impact force. This structure is tested and refined using a composite solver package called Ansys pre-post. Results from this study conclude that the structure is capable of providing safety for the rider in sudden impacts up to 25 mph both by limiting maximum deceleration and by maintaining structural integrity. This structure will act in two parts, the first by the mounts absorbing energy up to their limit of 5150 foot pounds and secondly the structure of the nose will protect the rider in larger impacts.

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