Impact and Crash Analysis
Discover how we can help you perform explicit dynamic FEM simulations to improve the performance and passive safety of your vehicleDownload Brochure Request information
When a system is subjected to loads that vary abruptly over time, its behavior cannot be accurately predicted through “equivalent” static analyses: non-linear transient dynamic simulation is the only viable path.
High-rate dynamic loads are often coupled with sources of non-linearity, such as energy absorption due to large-scale plastic deformation and contact between parts. Thanks to our extensive experience, we are able to perform dynamic structural calculations for impact and crash on collapsible structures made of both metallic and composite materials.
Reducing costs and product time-to-market
The Benefits of Impact and Crash Analysis
Automotive crash tests are destructive trials that every manufacturer must perform on a prototype to achieve vehicle type-approval (homologation). If a test fails, the necessary modifications are often far from intuitive and require the complete construction of a new prototype to be sacrificed for the next test.
Through crash simulation, it is possible to test multiple design variants and evaluate the most promising configuration in a virtual environment before proceeding to the physical homologation test.
This provides a reasonable guarantee that if the test is passed virtually, it will also succeed under real testing conditions.
For these reasons, impact and crash analysis for simulating passive safety has become a standard procedure in the automotive and motorsport industries.
Impact and Crash Analysis Services by SmartCAE
Over 20 years of engineering expertise at your service.
Using dynamic impact and crash analysis, we can perform the following simulations:
The primary test for certifying a vehicle’s passive safety is the barrier crash. This involves building and destroying several prototypes until safety requirements for frontal, rear, and lateral impacts, as well as pole impacts, are met. Furthermore, international regulations (e.g., Euro NCAP, IIHS, FMVSS) have different requirements that further increase the number of tests. Using crash analysis reduces prototype iterations, resulting in substantial savings in homologation time and costs.
A critical structural challenge for aircraft is ensuring safety in the event of an impact with a bird. Similar to automotive crash tests, this is performed experimentally by “firing” a projectile at the structure. Explicit dynamic simulation allows for the sizing of panels and aircraft structures to withstand such impacts.
Radomes are protective domes for antennas and electronic components installed on aircraft or civil structures. These components must withstand weather extremes, including hail-strike. Explicit dynamic simulation helps correctly size the radome to resist impacts defined by technical specifications.
The impact of a projectile on ballistic shielding or the effects of an explosion (e.g., a mine blast under an armored vehicle) can be simulated using explicit dynamic analyses.
Carbon fiber crash structures can absorb more energy per unit weight than metallic ones. The challenge in modeling the crash behavior of such structures lies in the complex failure mechanisms of the laminate.
Different stacking sequences, fiber orientations, and resin types significantly impact the crash behavior of the collapsible structure. We have refined testing and FEM modeling methods to accurately simulate this class of structures.
Validate your product before you build it.
What if you could reduce your prototyping costs by up to 80%? Would you like to know how?
With computer simulation, we help you predict your product's performance under real operating conditions before it is manufactured. Partner with us to eliminate design errors, optimize performance, and bring better products to market faster. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Contact us todayCAE Analysis Software
Looking to integrate Virtual Prototyping into your engineering workflow?
Discover our range of CAE software solutions and expert mentoring services. Our specialists will help you select the solution that best fits your needs and ensure its successful integration into your product development process. Contact us today for a free technical assessment.
View all softwareSimcenter 3D for Impact and Crash
Simcenter 3D can be used to create finite element models for the main impact and crash solvers. In addition, the Simcenter 3D Multi-Step Nonlinear solver enables the simulation of impact phenomena such as drop tests.
Simcenter Femap for Impact and Crash
The Simcenter Femap Multi-Step Nonlinear solver enables the simulation of impact phenomena such as drop tests. In addition, Simcenter Femap can be used to create finite element models for the main impact and crash solvers.
