A Simplified Approach to Multi-Body Simulation for Transport Accident Investigation

摘要

Precise assessment of survivability in a dynamic crash environment, and possible processes to improve survivability usually require prolonged, meticulous multi-body structural analysis, and a detailed vehicle structural model. However, to be useful in a post-accident investigation, it is very important that any analysis tools are user-friendly, able to offer rapid answers, and not reliant on comprehensive structural models. This paper investigates the development of a simple model for rapid recreation of the motion of a crashing structure and occupants, as a step towards the advancement of a tool that would be useful in accident analysis. First a simple, generic computer model is developed through the use of the multi-body dynamics/finite element program MADYMO. An initial parametric analysis is then carried out to study the sensitivity of total simulation runtime against global model variables such as finite element mesh size, dynamic complexity, contact definitions and material choice.