Truck Front Underrun Protection Parameter Identification and Modeling

Location: 

Göteborg, SE, 417 15

Position Type:  Student

 

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match. 

Master Thesis

Truck Front Underrun Protection Parameter Identification and Modeling

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match.

Background


This thesis focuses on understanding and modeling the Truck Front Underrun Protection (FUP), a structural system designed to prevent smaller vehicles from underrunning the truck during a frontal impact. The project aims to guide safety improvements in truck design by identifying key parameters and developing a parametric truck front model in LS-DYNA. Your work will directly support Volvo’s safety vision: zero accidents in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology.

What You Will Do


As part of this thesis project, you will:
•    Conduct a comprehensive review of current truck safety regulations, underrun protection requirements, and previous research on truck-car frontal impacts.
•    Identify and categorize typical truck front structures, including FUP geometry, materials, stiffness, and energy absorption characteristics across European fleets.
•    Build a database of key structural parameters influencing crash performance.
•    Develop a parametric truck front model in LS-DYNA that can be adapted to represent different design configurations and stiffness properties.
•    Use the model to analyze crash performance under various impact conditions, such as different offsets, speeds, and impact angles.
•    Provide insights into how FUP rigidity versus deformability affects crash compatibility with passenger vehicles.

 

Who You Are

 

We are looking for two master’s students passionate about vehicle safety, simulation, and real-world engineering challenges. You should enjoy combining data-driven analysis, modeling, and crash simulation to improve road safety.

 

You are likely to have:


•    A background in Vehicle Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Automotive Safety, or similar fields.
•    Experience or strong interest in finite element modeling (FEM), preferably in LS-DYNA.
•    Understanding of vehicle crash structures and energy absorption mechanisms.
•    Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent tools for data analysis.
•    A curious, analytical mindset and the ability to work independently and in a collaborative research environment.

Location:    Göteborg
Position Type:    Student


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Who we are and what we believe in 
We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities.


Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. ​We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. ​We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment.

 

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Job Category:  Engineering
Organization:  Group Trucks Technology
Travel Required:  No Travel Required
Requisition ID:  26858

Do we share the same aspirations?

Every day, Volvo Group products and services ensure that people have food on the table, children arrive safely at school and roads and buildings can be constructed. Looking ahead, we are committed to driving the transition to sustainable and safe transport, mobility and infrastructure solutions toward a net-zero society.

Joining Volvo Group, you will work with some of the world’s most iconic brands and be part of a global and leading industrial company that is harnessing automated driving, electromobility and connectivity.

Our people are passionate about what they do, they aim for high performance and thrive on teamwork and learning. Everyday life at Volvo is defined by a climate of support, care and mutual respect.

If you aspire to grow and make an impact, join us on our journey to create a better and more resilient society for the coming generations.