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SIMON is a new 3-dimensional vehicle dynamic simulation model. The capabilities of the model include non-linear handling maneuvers and collision simulation for one or more vehicles. As a new model, SIMON must be validated by comparison against actual handling and collision experiments. This paper provided that comparison. Included in the validation were lane-change maneuvers, alternate ramp traversals, limit maneuvers with combined braking and steering, vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests and articulated vehicle handling tests. Comparison against other models were included. No metric was provided for handling test comparisons. However, statistical analysis of the collision test results revealed the average path range error was 6.2 to 14.8 percent. The average heading error was -4.7 to 0.7 percent. Delta-V error was -1.6 to 7.5 percent. VEHICLE SIMULATION has many uses in the vehicle design and safety industries.

When an automobile is driven on wet roads, its tires must remove water from between the tread and road surfaces. It is well known that the ability of a tire to remove water depends heavily on tread depth, water depth and speed, as well as other factors, such as tire load, air pressure and tread design. It is less well known that tire tread depth combined with placement can have an adverse effect on vehicle handling on wet roads. This paper investigates passenger car handling on wet roads. Flat bed tire testing, three-dimensional computer simulation and skid pad experimental testing are used to determine how handling is affected by tire tread depth and front/rear position of low-tread-depth tires on the vehicle. Some skid pad test results are given, along with corresponding simulations. A literature review also is presented. Significant changes in tire-road longitudinal and lateral friction are shown to occur as speed, tread depth and water depth vary, even before hydroplaning occurs.

EDVSM is a 3-dimensional vehicle simulator developed for the HVE simulation environment. The EDVSM vehicle model was based on the original HVOSM model, developed at Calspan for the Federal Highway Administration. This paper describes the vehicle and tire models used by EDVSM. The basic model is unchanged from the original HVOSM model, however, tire-road modeling has been substantially improved by the model's integration into the HVE environment. This paper provides the details of the integration procedure. The paper also includes a validation study, comparing results between EDVSM, HVOSM and real-world handling studies. Comparison reveals the results are substantially similar. Finally, applications and limitations of the model are addressed.

This paper describes the use of 3-D technologies for reconstructing and simulating motor vehicle accidents involving humans (occupants and pedestrians) and vehicles (passenger cars, pickups, vans, multi-purpose vehicles, on-highway trucks and vehicle-trailers). All examples involve three-dimensional environments, including road crowns, hills, curbs and embankments - any geometrical feature resulting in three-dimensional motion. Various reconstruction and simulation models are illustrated. The features and limitations of each model are addressed. Issues involving data requirements, preparation of 3-D models and presentation techniques (numeric, graphic and video animation) are also explored.

The accuracy of the SMAC computer program was evaluated in terms of its ability to predict the correct paths and damage profiles for vehicles involved in a crash. A comparison of the results from SMAC and EDSMAC were presented along with measured results from twelve staged collisions. Statistical analysis of those results revealed the average path error was 25 to 29 percent and the average damage profile error was 109 to 287 percent. A procedure was presented for improving the match between simulated and measured paths. After using this procedure, the average path error was reduced to -2 to 7 percent and the average damage profile error was 54 to 186 percent. CDC predictions were very good. Damage profile errors, which did not reduce the program's overall effectiveness, were the result of the way the program computes inter-vehicle forces, leading to a recommendation that the algorithm be reformulated to include an initial force coefficient.

The accuracy of the CRASH computer program was evaluated in terms of its ability to estimate impact speed. A comparison of the results from CRASH2, CRASH3 and EDCRASH were presented along with measured results from twelve staged collisions. Statistical analysis of these results revealed the impact speeds estimated by these CRASH programs were within −6 to +7 percent of the combined impact speeds at a 95 percent level of confidence. Using EDCRASH's extended features to optimize the input data improved the range to within −3 to +3 percent of combined impact speeds. An example was used to illustrate the use of the confidence intervals to estimate the expected range of impact speed for a given reconstruction. The results for oblique collisions were found to be significantly more accurate than the results for collinear collisions.