Numerical and experimental validation of fiber metal laminate structure for lithium-ion battery protection subjected to high-velocity impact loading

Abstract

A novel structural protection based on fiber metal laminate (FML) was developed for a lithium-ion battery module to address ground impact issues in electric vehicles (EVs). To verify the battery structural protection and for experimental validation, a new high-velocity impact test methodology was proposed. FML was selected for its high strength-to-weight ratio. The design implemented was the optimum configuration identified in a prior study. Finite element models comprising FML and lithium iron phosphate batteries were developed. The numerical simulation results, which correlated well with the experiments, enabled observation of the perforation process and failure modes of the FML. In the experiment, the safety valve of the center battery in the module experienced a compression of 3.28 mm. Despite this deformation, the FML effectively protected the lithium-ion batteries, as evidenced by the stable battery voltage during the high-velocity impact test.