Corus collaboration with DAF leads to unique crash simulation model
03 Oct 2006
- New simulation technique helps in the design of safer trucks for the future
- Latest CAE model helps reduce development time and costs for truck-makers
Corus, the international steel company, and DAF Trucks, one of Europe’s leading truck manufacturers, have collaborated to develop a unique computer simulation crash model which they believe will lead to safer future truck designs.
With road freight increasing across Europe, there is growing pressure on manufacturers to design safer trucks that protect both the driver and other road users. In addition, improving the performance and truck containment of modern roadside crash barrier systems is an area that can greatly contribute to increased road safety.
The collaboration has brought together DAF’s market leading design capabilities with Corus’ materials knowledge, advanced computer modelling expertise and importantly, over 40 years of hands-on knowledge designing, manufacturing and supplying roadside crash barrier systems.
DAF supplied its latest engineering data to Corus Tubes, based in Corby, UK. Using this data and working closely with DAF, Corus has been able to develop a sophisticated crash simulation model, which has led to the development of a class leading high containment barrier system for commercial vehicles. Importantly, the collaboration now provides DAF with access to this crash simulation model based on the latest engineering data that can be used to enhance their own evaluation during new model development.
A major advantage of utilising this latest Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) technology, is that engineers can quickly evaluate many iterations to optimise new model design. Reducing the reliance on physical crash testing will provide benefits to both DAF and Corus in the reduction of both development time and costs.
Henk Voets from DAF Trucks in Eindhoven comments: “While using CAE simulation techniques is now standard practice in truck design, by working with Corus, this unique crash simulation model has enabled us to go one step further.”
Mr Voets continues: “More stringent legislation has placed higher demands on the containment capabilities of today’s roadside barrier systems that is helping to make roads safer across Europe. Corus’ crash simulation model will help us to understand how future truck designs perform against these systems, enabling us to optimise designs so they work even better by maximising the performance of crash containment areas on the vehicle.”
Ramsey Ross, Director Market and Business Development Corus, said: “As one of Europe’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of steel roadside barriers and parapet systems it’s important that we have access to the latest engineering data to help us improve both the design and material specification of crash barrier systems. By working with a leading truck manufacturer like DAF, Corus can obtain access to this data and importantly allows us to continue developing new technologies and materials.”
Mr Ross concludes: “Our learning on this exercise enabled us to also go beyond the specific requirements of the EN 1317 specification and allows foreseeable comparable testing to be analysed. For example, there could even be future use in modelling the crash compatibility issues of truck cabs and passenger cars to further improve safety even further.”
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