Virtual Interior Development – Reduction of Development Time and Costs for Fulfilling the FMVSS 201u 2002-01-0566

The goal of virtual interior development is the virtual release of components avoiding the usual “try and error” method. This paper gives an example how this process was realized for an a-pillar in a vehicle. We started the process in the early development phase of the interior components, where we evaluated a concept on which the surface design of the component was based. By using validated material models for the FMH-simulation, the solution for the deformation concept complying with FMVSS 201u was found without the need of prototype components. Based on the results of virtual data from the simulation, the final solution was released. Testing on the hardware together with a comparison of the results to the calculations finally verified the solution. In this way, the concept of this example's a-pillar trim could be released.