1. Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
UMassAmherst
Automobile Bumper Bracket
Analysis
Gregory Scantlebury
Abstract
The bumper brackets of Toyota®
vehicles vary from
model to model. This is an engineering comparison
between the front bumper bracket of the smallest car
Toyota®
makes, the Yaris, with two sequentially larger
vehicles, the RAV4 and the Tundra, to see how size and
weight play a role in its design.
Analysis
Each bumper bracket was modeled using Pro Engineer
and analyzed using ANSYS Workbench 12.1. Using a
simulation of a front end collision, deformation was
measured and illustrated.
Differences
The Yaris is a subcompact sedan; it is the lightest
of the three at 2300 lbs. The RAV4 is a SUV and
is the middleweight at 3360 lbs. The Tundra is a
full size pick up and it is the heaviest at 4580 lbs.
Conclusion
The smaller cars need the bracket to act as a crumple zone
to absorb energy where as a larger vehicle has a large
enough area between the occupants and front that the
crumple zones can be elsewhere. And in the case of a
pickup truck it needs to be more rigid then a car so the
bumper needs to be stiffer and cheaper.
2007 Yaris
2008 RAV4
2008 Tundra