The Impact of Crash Simulation on Productivity andProblem-Solving in Automotive R&D

This paper analyzes the impact of the virtual tool 'crash simulation' on automotive R&D over thelast 35 years. The research carried out in this context identifies and investigates distinct phasesrespectively stages of the potential of crash simulations based on the Finite Element Method and thestages' impact on automotive R&D in-depth.In a study of German Original Equipment Manufacturers' (OEM) utilization of crash simulations,the evolution of this tool is explored and its impact on productivity and problem-solvinginvestigated. We draw upon literature about crash simulations in car development projects, theutilization of crash simulations in related tasks, and recent literature about the overall impact ofcrash simulations on automotive R&D. The significance of the tool 'crash simulation' for the OEMsis emphasized by means of corresponding landmark projects. Our study is based on qualitativeresearch based on 29 in-depth interviews with experts from all of the major German OEMs andexperts from the US-American academia. Our analysis results...