The numerical simulation of various crash scenarios is an important part of vehicle development. Although element numbers of today's Finite Element models for crash simulation of complete vehicles exceed three millions, the desire rises for further detailing of models. In this context the aim of the research project was the development of a method that can be used to reduce the computation times for crash calculations while increasing or at least keeping constant accuracy. In essence, the method developed uses switching on and off rigid bodies in order to reduce computing times. With the new method computing time savings of up to 25 percent have been achieved. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as part of the Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM).

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