Volvo 3P Cab Engineering Includes New Material Model Available in RADIOSS to Better Predict Behavior of Cast Parts in Crash Calculations

TROY, Mich., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Altair Engineering, Inc., a leading global provider of simulation technology and engineering services that empower client innovation and decision-making, announced today that Volvo 3P Cab Engineering, based in Lyon, France, has introduced new complex material laws in their RADIOSS models to better predict the behavior of ductile cast-iron parts in crash simulations.

Volvo 3P is a Business Unit of the AB Volvo group for product planning, purchasing, global vehicle development, global engineering and product range management, delivering solutions for Volvo Group's global truck operations. One of Volvo 3P's basic challenges is the evaluation of vehicle safety under various crash conditions. Intensive phases of simulations are conducted to support and enhance vehicles safety.

To create a numerical simulation model, that covers all the complex conditions involved in crash situation, Volvo 3P uses the Altair software RADIOSS. In the need to study several aspects such as elasto-plastic behavior, hardening, strain rate dependency, triaxial behavior and failure, Volvo 3P relies on the modeling capabilities of RADIOSS. Several tests for material property identification were accomplished to obtain data about the material's behavior up to the rupture in case of torsion, tension and compression (hardening, strain rate effect, stress state influence). The achieved data were used to validate the numeric model in RADIOSS and enabled the Volvo 3P engineers to set up the right material laws for simulation.

"The prediction of the behavior of single components can be very complex, as recently shown by the prediction of crash behavior for ductile cast-iron brackets," said Jerome Lagrut, senior analyst, Volvo 3P Cab Engineering. "Since the brackets are the critical link between chassis and the driver's cab, they are key components for the crash behavior and the occupant safety. Certain crashworthiness requirements, such as regulations and severe internal requirements must be covered. After the identification of the material behavior via tests, we have been able to implement these laws in a simulation model for further investigations. The crash simulations on complete vehicles in RADIOSS showed very good correlations with physical tests and we are very pleased with the outcome of our development efforts," he continued.

"We are pleased to see Volvo 3P Cab Engineering engineers expanding the usability of RADIOSS in their development tasks," said Mauro Guglielminotti, managing director, Altair, France. "Having the ability to better predict crash results is a highly competitive advantage and will lead to better and safer products, a reduced number of prototypes and savings of time and money. Including special validated material laws is the right answer to the calculation needs at Volvo 3P Cab Engineering."

About RADIOSS

RADIOSS is a next-generation finite element solver for linear and non-linear simulations.  It can be used to simulate structures, fluids, fluid-structure interaction, sheet metal stamping, and mechanical systems. This robust, multidisciplinary solution allows manufacturers to maximize durability, noise and vibration performance, crashworthiness, safety, and manufacturability of designs to bring innovative products to market faster.

About AB Volvo

The Volvo Group is a customer-oriented organization that is distinguished by transport solutions that strengthen the customer's long-term competitiveness. The Volvo Group has its roots in Sweden, France, Japan and the US and has about 100,000 employees. Production is carried out in 19 countries, while sales take place in about 180 markets. Volvo's business areas are Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, Mack Trucks, Nissan Diesel, Buses, Construction Equipment, Volvo Penta, Volvo Aero and Financial Services. There are a number of business units that support the business area's operations. The largest are Volvo 3P, Volvo Powertrain, Volvo Parts, Volvo Logistics, Volvo Technology and Volvo IT. The Group's structure creates conditions for working closely together with customers. The Volvo Group's strategy is based on customer's requirements and focused on profitable growth, product renewal and internal efficiency.

About Altair

Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,300 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for enterprise analytics, product development and advanced computing, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

SOURCE Altair Engineering, Inc.