Dynamic Validation of a Computer Simulation for Vehicle Crash

The present paper describes two crash tests designed to validate a computer simulation developed for predicting the large dynamic plastic response of vehicle structures under crash conditions. The test structures were idealized quarter scale models consisting of frame and rigid body elements. Both direct and oblique pole impacts are reported. Impact speed was 30 MPH. Predicted and experimental results are compared for the crush displacements, impact force at the pole barrier, and acceleration histories at two points on the “passenger compartment” mass. Good agreement is obtained for the symmetric test. Results for the oblique test are not as uniformly good, but quantitative agreement is still satisfactory. Comparison of dynamic variables are sensitive to both the filtering of the raw test data and the numerical integration procedure employed in the simulation. It is demonstrated that the use of appropriate error measures to select step size insures the efficient convergence to a signal with the frequency content of interest in crashworthiness applications.