The Role of Computer Simulation in Vehicle Dynamics and Safety

By Mike Blundell - Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Impact

This lecture provided an overview of applied research work carried out at Coventry University, specialising in two main areas of vehicle dynamics and safety. All of the work has involved external partners, and example applications from projects collaborating with companies and institutions in the automotive and aerospace industries will be presented. A main theme was to show how engineering computer simulation, based around the two disciplines of multi-body systems analysis and finite element analysis, has evolved over the last 20 years to support the design and development of vehicles and engineering products.

The applications covered were diverse and include; road vehicle dynamics, automotive and aircraft tyre modelling, pedestrian impact protection, the simulation of airbag deployment and the potential to improve occupant protection for civil helicopter crashes. The presentation will conclude by identifying the challenges that remain and are being currently addressed in areas such as human body modelling.

Watch the whole lecture on YouTube