Abaqus side impact crash dummy offers realistic simulation

14 April 2011

Dassault Systemes has released the Abaqus WorldSID (Worldwide Side Impact Dummy) 50th percentile male dummy model from SIMULIA, the company's simulation software arm. Vehicle safety engineers are able to utilise WorldSID to develop vehicle designs that enhance side impact protection and reduce injuries to occupants. Moreover, virtual crash tests involving simulation models for the vehicle and dummy can be carried out many times, at least expense.

Vehicle safety is one of the most important requirements in modern vehicle design. German car manufacturers Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, and Volkswagen founded the Partnership for Dummy Technology and Biomechanics (PDB) in 2002 as a cooperative venture to combine their specialized knowledge in crash test dummy technology, biomechanics and simulation in order to achieve high standards of occupant protection.

SIMULIA has developed its Abaqus WorldSID 50th percentile male crash dummy model in collaboration with the PDB. The consortium has recently approved Version 2 of the Abaqus model, confirming the close correlation of the model against numerous physical tests carried out on the corresponding dummy hardware.

Due to its enhanced true-to-life design (known as, biofidelity), the WorldSID 50th dummy hardware is being incorporated into crash testing regulations around the world. The model is representative of the average male in terms of height, mass, and proportion. Various improvements to the dummy design over previous side impact crash dummies, such as incorporation of Nitinol material in the rib cage region, lead to the improved biofidelity of WorldSID. The Abaqus WorldSID 50th development process has validated the dummy simulation against nearly 300 separate physical calibration tests for material, component, subassembly, and full dummy load cases.