Virtual Crash and Tire Simulation Laboratory

PAM-CRASH, PAM-SAFE, and PAM-SHOCK predictive virtual crashworthiness testing tools come into play once the initial prototype design of a vehicle or sideways devices product or assembly of a mechanical system or devices has been completed using a standard CAD product. Virtual crash testing tools are used to predict the outcome of physical testing before testing the end product without the need to manufacture costly prototypes. The PAM-SYSTEM family of application-specific software enables the industrial designer, government or states regulators to anticipate the mechanical behavior of new products, such as new seatbelt, airbags, vehicle structures, and tire design. to be virtually tested under a broad range of operating conditions, including extreme and accidental.

PAM-CRASH

PAM-CRASH is an application-specific industrial software tool developed to perform realistic and predictive virtual crashworthiness simulations in the transportation industry. PAM-CRASH is specifically designed to simulate mechanical structural testing and, in particular, required regulatory crash tests. It is the world's number one tool for car crash test simulation.

Virtual Trucks Collision

Virtual Rollover Tests

PAM-SAFE

PAM-SAFE is tailored to the simulation of vehicle passenger safety testing in transportation industries, removing the limitations of simplified but idealized numerical models. PAM-SAFE realistically simulates all passenger restraint systems, such as airbags and seat belts (complete with slipperiness, retractors, and pretensions), and offers a library of validated regulation-compliant dummies.

Dummy, airbag and seat belt model

PAM-SHOCK

PAM-SHOCK is high-frequency vibration simulation software. This software has been used to develop virtual tire/drum models for tire transient response and standing waves predictrions at high rotating speeds.

PAM-GENERIS

PAM-GENERIS is the link between mesh data read in a variety of formats and the PAM-CRASH/SAFE/SHOCK software. It enables the user to efficiently define and generate inputs for all mechanical conditions:

PAM-VIEW

PAM-VIEW is the 3-D graphical interactive application-specific post-processor member of the PAM-SYSTEM family. It is used to produce contour plots, animations, and time history curves with filtering capabilities.

This Penn State research is trying to predict the tire standing wave phenomenon by this full non-linear finite element model, i.e. a radial passenger car tire rolling on the testing drum. The figures shown the results of the transient dynamic tire response study using PAM-SHOCK. In addition, a visualized simulation of the standing wave was carried out for the first time. The results obtained from the FEA tire model were validated against analytical derivations and experimental work and showed excellent agreement. The Center is planning to sign corporate agreements with large tire manufacturer in Europe for joint research effort to examine the effect of the current tire design and construction on tire high-speed performance using our Virtual Tire Models.

Composite material modeling has been recently added to this research activities, where SYSPLY software developed that developed by ESI International has been installed at PTI.

LS-DYNA

The center also uses LS-DYNA for graduate studies and for solving complex crash problems for government and industry sponsors. LS-DYNA is a general purpose, explicit finite element program used to analyze the nonlinear dynamic response of three-dimensional inelastic structures. Livermore Software Technology Corporation developed LS-DYNA for analysis, LS-INGRID for processing, and LS-TAURUS for postprocessing - all are interfaced with leading CAD, FEA, and FEM systems.

This laboratory is collaborates and shares information with the virtual crash communities worldwide, including George Washington University and Clemson University in the United States; Mustafa Kemal University in Turkey; and Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Concordia University in Canada.

LS-DYNAN Model for Virtual NCHRP-350 Strong-Post Guardrail Crash Test