EHTC 2009

Development Process to Assure Five Star Crash Ratings

Laurent DiValentin
Senior Simulation Expert
PSA Peugeot Citroën

Abstract:
Accelerating the development times of automotive projects, while increasing the quality
demanded by the market, are two main challenges automotive engineers have to take
into account. To face these tough problems, simulation is an important solution.

Simulation methods have been constantly improved over the last 20 years and play an important role in the development and validation of our cars. As with every decisive tool, it is very important to know not only the advantages of it but also the underlying limitations of simulation. Only if all aspects of a method have been taken into consideration, and it has been assured that a tool has been properly used, it can be assured that the timelines imposed on the project can be kept and development goals can be reached. At PSA Peugeot Citroën, in the field of crash, where simulation has replaced many crash tests and where many engineers are working daily on numerical models, the previous questions had to be answered to control the expected results of the projects.

This presentation will describe which issues have been solved to ensure the best possible
and reliable development process and results in our car projects.

Biography

Previous Work History:
L. Di Valentin entered PSA Peugeot Citroën in 1997 to work on the development of crash
simulation methods in a team of which he became responsible in 2001.
In 2005, he managed support activities in fields concerning crash, vibration, acoustics
and fatigue.

Nothworthy Achievements:
He has been launched and followed PhDs in crash simulation over the last decade and
he is an active member of SIA (French Car Engineer Society) for the questions concerning
simulation.

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