Patent ID: 8504339

Claim:
A computer implemented method for simulating the deformation of a body element of a motor vehicle that occurs during an impact event, comprising: providing a finite element model of the body element that includes a initial load distribution pattern; generating a first simulation output including data indicative of the deformation of the body element during a first portion of the impact event, wherein the first simulation output is generated using the initial load distribution pattern by a finite element analysis system executing on a computer; determining whether a portion of the body element is in a failure condition based on the first simulation output; if a failure condition is determined, updating, using the computer, the load distribution pattern of at least a portion of the body element; and generating a second simulation output including data indicative of the deformation of the body element during a second portion of the impact event, wherein the second simulation output is generated using the updated load distribution pattern by said finite element analysis system.