RE: flex me(was z3) -Reply

["Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>]

On Mon, 17 Mar 1997, Andrew Fletcher wrote:

> Strange, if the Audi does so well in accidents ie generally you can open
> your door and step out then why the chassis flex in normal driving.
> Surely an accident would increase this flex to a point where the doors
> would jam shut? Or does it just flex back???

Back in the old days (when most of our Audis were designed) crash energy 
absorption was designed most easily by designing the structure so thast 
it would buckle on impact.   Audi, Volvo, M-B and a few others did this 
quite well, but only at the expense of chassis stiffness.   Nowadays, 
they know alot more about crash energy management, and they can actually 
make structures absorb energy in a crash _and_ be stiff at the same time!

Also, just because it is flexible does not mean it will absorb energy 
better.   Also, a stiff structure is not necessarily safe.   The actual 
crash dynamics also play a big part in the overall equation.  This is a 
big subject - better discussed on rec.autos.smash-up-derby.

Later,
Graydon D. Stuckey 
'86 5KCSTQ, getting more toys every day...