ESI Group's Simulation Solution Takes SkodaAuto One Step Closer Towards Fully Virtual Prototypes

Designed with PAM-CRASH, the new Skoda Fabia reaches four star rating at Euro-NCAP crash tests

EuroPAM 2002, Antibes (France), October 21, 2002 - ESI Group, a leading provider of virtual prototyping and manufacturing solutions, today announced that the Skoda Fabia has been fully tested with PAM-CRASH simulation software. As all VW members, SkodaAuto shares a common base platform with their suppliers. Standardization of software tools and methodology is a strong requirement in order to achieve the group's quality objectives. When the carmaker joined the VW group, the Car Development department decided to rely on PAM-CRASH for crash test simulation. As a result the new Skoda Fabia reached an excellent four star rating in the Euro-NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) crash tests.

"Increased competition and higher market standard have made it impossible for SkodaAuto to develop a car model without digital simulation," says Milos Safr, CAE Manager, SkodaAuto. " ESI Group's simulation solution for crash analysis has taken our company one step closer towards fully virtual prototypes."

PAM-CRASH simulation was not only used for the virtual testing of the Fabia, but also for upfront virtual development. Virtual prototyping brings a better understanding of the physics, it allows Skoda to investigate more quickly the impact of customized options at an early stage of the design process. From the first side impact model, which consisted of a 150 000 finite element body-in-white model in 1996, the simulation evolved to a 700 000 finite element model, which now takes into consideration door facing, padding, seats with foams, dummies and airbags. By reducing the number of physical crash tests and real prototypes, simulation drastically shortens the design cycle.

SkodaAuto uses PAM-CRASH's unique "substructuring" feature for fast turn around and low cost simulation. This technique allows suppliers to work on a much smaller model that takes into account all the information they need to test their airbags. The car body deformations resulting from pole test simulations are stored, but only the boundary conditions of the deformed substructure are provided to the airbag manufacturer.

However collaborative engineering is not restricted to airbag manufacturers. VW provides all members with the updated digital model of the car base platform. Members fit the new base model into their own model, analyze it against their technical requirements, and send their comments to the VW platform developer, who tries to meet a maximum of platform users' requests.

All these tools and procedures have helped drastically SkodaAuto to adapt its development process to VW standard and shorten the learning curve. Today, SkodaAuto is using a single finite element base model for stiffness, frontal and side impact crash simulation. "Virtual Prototyping will lead SkodaAuto towards its ultimate goal: have the first design the right one!" concludes Milos Safr.

About SkodaAuto 

Established in the early 1900's, SkodaAuto is a car manufacturing pioneer of the 20th century. Today the company employs more than 25 000 people and produces 500 000 cars per year. In 1991, SkodaAuto joined the VW Group and streamlined its distribution network and engineering organization. Selling in 64 countries worldwide, SkodaAuto now offers a complete range of modern vehicles.

About ESI Group 

Editor of virtual testing solutions, ESI Group is a pioneer and world leading provider of digital simulation for prototyping and manufacturing processes that take into account the physics of materials. ESI Group has developed an entire suite of coherent, industry oriented applications to realistically simulate a product's behavior during testing, to fine tune the manufacturing processes in synergy with the desired product performance, and to evaluate the environment's impact on product usage. ESI Group's product portfolio, which has been industrially validated and combined in multi-trade value chains, represents a unique collaborative, virtual engineering solution, known as the Virtual Try-Out Space (VTOS), enabling a continuous improvement on the virtual prototype. By drastically reducing costs and development lead times, VTOS solutions offer major competitive advantages by progressively eliminating the need for physical prototypes. With revenues close to euros 43 million in fiscal year 2001, ESI Group (Nouveau March�: Euronext Paris - Software - Euroclear 6584 - Bloomberg ESI FP - Reuters ESIG.LN) employs over 300 high-level specialists worldwide. The company and its global network of agents provide sales and technical support to customers in more than 30 countries. 

www.esi-group.com

 

Sponsored Links

AnyDWG Offers DWG to PDF, DWG to DXF, PDF to DWG, DWG to JPG, PDF to DXF Converters

AutoDWG offers DWF to DWG, DWG to PDF , PDF to DWG, DWG to Flash Converters, DWG Viewer.

eCampus.com Get your stuff for College... Cheap! Textbooks, Greek Gear, DVD's, University Clothing, Computers and MORE!

Access Your PC from Anywhere Free Trial plus 10% Off!