Design of the Philippine Jeepney for Crashworthiness Analysis: A Finite Element Analysis Approach

Abstract

In this study, the crashworthiness analysis of the Philippine jeepney was successfully demonstrated using the finite element analysis approach. The Philippine jeepneys, or sometimes-called jeeps, are the most popular means of public transportation in the country. They are often known in the country as “King of the Road.” Though commuting via jeepney is the cheapest option, there are a lot of cons. Jeepneys are often mechanically unsound due to their balding tires, crabbing and yawing from distorted subframes with poor emission. The FEA Design Center Facility of the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology was able to evaluate the vehicle crashworthiness using computer-aided design (CAD) and FEA models developed in SIEMENS NX. From the simulated impact analysis results, the current jeepney design is not well designed to absorb such crash impact. Thus, resulting in fatal injuries that may cause harm to its passengers.