A novel and fast crash simulation method: Revolutionising racetrack safety barrier analysis
Crash safety barriers are essential safety measures on public roadways and in motorsports. The crashworthiness of these barriers is often predicted using the finite element (FE) method. However, employing the FE method for large-scale crash analysis is time-consuming and computationally expensive. T...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024021133 |
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| Summary: | Crash safety barriers are essential safety measures on public roadways and in motorsports. The crashworthiness of these barriers is often predicted using the finite element (FE) method. However, employing the FE method for large-scale crash analysis is time-consuming and computationally expensive. This paper introduces a novel application of the soft-body physics simulation method for crashworthiness analysis, comparing it with the popular FE simulation method and physical crash tests. The study details the ‘bottom-up’ approach for developing a mass-spring model for soft-body simulation and the development of an FE model of the tyre barrier system used in Formula One racetracks. Results from both numerical methods are validated against physical test results by comparing the vehicle's peak acceleration, rebound velocity, maximum intrusion into the barrier, and CORA rating. Both methods demonstrated a close correlation with physical crash tests, predicting the peak g-force on a crash vehicle within 1 g accuracy and the maximum intrusion within 8 cm accuracy. While the FE method exhibited higher accuracy, the mass-spring model offered superior computational efficiency, making it particularly suitable for simulating a variety of crash configurations. The research concludes that although FE simulation remains a mainstay for crash simulations, soft-body physics simulation should not be overlooked because of its efficiency and versatility. This novel engineering application can significantly expedite the analysis of safety barriers for testing various crash scenarios, including different vehicle types, impact speeds, and angles. |
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| ISSN: | 2590-1230 |