Procedures for Verification and Validation of Computer Simulations Used for Roadside Safety Applications

There is a long history of using finite element methods to design and evaluate mechanical devices in general and roadside safety hardware in particular. While computer simulations have become widespread the issue of verification and validation has only recently begun to be addressed. The objective of this research is to develop guidelines for verification and validation of detailed finite element analyses for crash simulations of roadside safety features. The focus of these guidelines is establishing accuracy, credibility, and confidence in the results of crash test simulations intended (i) to support policy decisions and (ii) to be used for approval of design modifications to roadside safety devices that were originally approved through full-scale crash testing. The chapters in this report include an in-depth review of the literature, a “best practices” guide to modeling roadside safety hardware, the research team’s recommended procedures for verifying and validating finite element models used in roadside safety applications, and an assessment of the procedures with the perspective of using the guidelines. The literature review chapter provides a review of the methods that have been used in verification and validation efforts – both in the roadside safety area as well as computational mechanics in general. Gaps in the literature were identified, which were later addressed in the development of the research team’s recommended procedures for verification and validation. Chapter 3 identifies model building best practices in easily retrieved form so that both new and experienced users can develop models that are highly likely to run without errors. The best practices information was garnered from a survey of practitioners that was conducted to determine modeling techniques and the range of acceptable variation when performing typical roadside safety simulations. Chapter 4 presents recommendations for verifying solutions and validating computer simulations in roadside safety, and Chapter 5 presents several example cases to demonstrate the process of applying the procedures. Chapter 6 includes benchmark cases and Chapter 7 summarizes the conclusions of this study.

• Record URL:
  • https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/17647
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309431019
• Authors:
  • Ray, Malcolm H
  • Mongiardini, Mario
  • Plaxico, Chuck A
  • Anghileri, Marco
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Contractor Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 570p
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Web-Only Document
  • Issue Number: 179
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Crashes; Finite element method; Literature reviews; Roadside; Simulation; Validation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Roadside safety hardware
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01353757
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309431019
• Report/Paper Numbers: NCHRP Project 22-24
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 14 2011 4:17PM