Improving passive safety by computer simulation

Abstract

Increasing of safety is necessarily - as every other development - a trial and error process. Traditional way to verify the results of development is construction and testing of many prototypes. This is time consuming and expensive. Proven alternative is a virtual simulation. Automotive industry was the first using it almost exclusively for crash tests. This remains the main role today, but the development of technology and increasing of computer power has enabled usage of simulation in new areas. Today is simulation used in the process of manufacturing (stamping, welding ...) and allows direct analysis of the influence of the manufacturing process in crash test result. Simulation gives an accurate description of inflating behavior of airbags. Simulation is also used in comfort, for example in the development of car seats is possible to evaluate effect of vibration transmitted to occupants. Simulation can be used to test the durability of road barriers, where you can virtually check the behavior before physical test. Company ESI Group, a leading global supplier and innovator in this field, has a constantly evolving portfolio of software tools enabling realistic and predictive simulations. The effectiveness of software tools is enhanced by a common environment to define the role and easy portability of the results from one area to another simulation, i.e. you can make very accurate simulation of crash tests, with the influence of manufacturing processes of individual components. MECAS ESI, Czech branch of ESI Group, provides distribution of computer simulation tools and support in Central and Eastern Europe.