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Automobile hood design is driven by many factors, such as strict government regulations, fuel economy, weight, manufacturability, aerodynamic performance, aesthetics, structural integrity, and pedestrian safety standards. The requirement of improved fuel economy and safety regulations like pedestrian protection drive designers to reduce the thickness of the hood parts and use lighter materials. This leads to significant reduction in the hood stiffness. The hood needs to withstand steady and unsteady aerodynamic loads and meet deflection and vibration targets. The susceptibility of the hood to adverse aero load response is increased as the stiffness of the hood is reduced. The objective of this study is to develop a methodology to simulate hood behavior under transient aerodynamic loads in controlled environments. This study mainly focuses on developing fluid structure interaction methodology to simulate the behavior of the hood system under transient aerodynamic loads.

This paper describes a simplified CAE simulation for the calculation of peak strut force in a damped tailgate system. Tailgate systems in the past included a torsion rod for lift assist, but did not include damping in the opening/drop direction. Newer tailgate systems include a strut to provide damping during drop and possibly lift assist. These tailgates may also be designed to experience a free-fall for a few degrees after being unlatched and before the strut engages. When the latch is released, the tailgate accelerates as it falls freely and then encounters a rapidly increasing damping force as the strut engages. The deceleration of the gate depends upon the damping force, yet the damping force depends upon the deceleration of the tailgate, making a precise calculation of the damping force difficult. Damping characteristics of the strut depend on the volume, the viscosity of oil and its flow restrictions across the piston. These parameters are not known early in the design process.