Customized finite element model for crash test dummy

1. A method for creating a customizable dummy finite element model for a crash test dummy hardware model, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying first finite element factor profiles for the dummy hardware model that match certification corridors for the dummy hardware model;

defining a mapping function based on the first finite element factor profiles that allows second finite element factor profiles for the dummy hardware model to be interpolated from the first finite element factor profiles; and

generating a customizable dummy finite element model for the dummy hardware model that incorporates the mapping function.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving from a user computing device a user input parameter that defines a target response for the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level;

retrieving the mapping function of the customizable dummy finite element model;

determining a finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response using the mapping function; and

communicating the finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response to the user computing device for generating a customized finite element model for the dummy hardware model based on the finite element factor profile.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mapping function indicates a response of the customizable dummy finite element model at the certification level as a function of finite element factors defining attributes of the customizable dummy finite element model, and determining a finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response using the mapping function comprises:

determining values for the finite element factors that minimize a difference between the response indicated by the mapping function and the target response; and

incorporating the determined values into the finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first finite element factor profiles includes a value for each of plural finite element factors that define attributes of the customizable dummy finite element model, and defining a mapping function based on the first finite element factor profiles that allows second finite element factor profiles for the dummy hardware model to be interpolated from the first finite element factors profiles comprises applying a design of experiments (DOE) to the values for the finite element factors of the first finite element factor profiles.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a default response for the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level; and

setting the customizable dummy finite element model to produce the default response at the certification level.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first finite element factor profiles each corresponds to a response of the customizable dummy finite element model at the certification level, and identifying a default response for the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level comprises identifying an average of the responses of the customizable dummy finite element model at the certification level to which the first finite element factor profiles correspond.

7. A system for creating a customizable dummy finite element model for a crash test dummy hardware model, the system comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

identify first finite element factor profiles for the dummy hardware model that match certification corridors for the dummy hardware model;

define a mapping function based on the first finite element factor profiles that allows second finite element model profiles for the dummy hardware model to be interpolated from the first finite element factor profiles; and

generate a customizable dummy finite element model for the dummy hardware model that incorporates the mapping function.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive, from a user computing device, a user input parameter for the customizable dummy finite element model that defines a target response for the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level;

determine a finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response using the mapping function; and

communicate the finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response to the user computing device for generating a customized finite element model for the dummy hardware model based on the finite element factor profile.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mapping function indicates a response of the customizable dummy finite element model at the certification level as a function of finite element factors defining attributes of the customizable dummy finite element model, and the at least one processor is configured to determine a finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response using the mapping function by being configured to:

determine values for the finite element factors that minimize a difference between the response indicated by the mapping function and the target response; and

incorporate the determined values into the finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the customizable dummy finite element model comprises computer-executable instructions configured upon execution by the at least one processor to receive a user input parameter for the customizable dummy finite element model that defines a target response for the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level, determine a finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response using the mapping function, and generate a customized dummy finite element model for the dummy hardware model based on the finite element factor profile corresponding to the target response.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a first user input parameter corresponding an upper extreme of the certification corridors for the dummy hardware model;

receive a second user input parameter corresponding to a lower extreme of the certification corridors for the dummy hardware model;

responsive to receiving the first user input parameter, configure the customizable dummy finite element model to generate a response at the upper extreme of the certification corridors at a certification level; and

responsive to receiving the second user input parameter, configure the customizable dummy finite element model to generate a response at the lower extreme of the certification corridors at the certification level.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first finite element factor profiles correspond to extremes of the certification corridors for the dummy hardware model.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the first finite element factor profiles includes a value for each of plural finite element factors that define attributes of the customizable dummy finite element model, and the value for each of the finite element factors of a first one of the first finite element factor profiles differs from the value for the finite element factor of a second one of the first finite element factor profiles.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the finite element factors is associated with a minimum factor value and a maximum factor value, the value for each of the finite element factors of the first one of the first finite element factor profiles corresponds to the minimum factor value for the finite element factor, and the value for each of the finite element factors of the second one of the first finite element factor profiles corresponds to the maximum factor value for the finite element factor.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the finite element factors include a material attribute and a contact friction attribute of the customizable dummy finite element model.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the mapping function indicates a response of the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level as a function of the finite element factors.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to define a mapping function based on the first finite element factor profiles that allows second finite element factor profiles for the dummy hardware model to be interpolated from the first finite element factor profiles by being configured to apply a design of experiments (DOE) to the values for the finite element factors of the first finite element factor profiles.

18. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

identify a default response for the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level; and

set the customizable dummy finite element model to produce the default response at the certification level.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first finite element factor profiles each corresponds to a response of the customizable dummy finite element model at the certification level, and the default response at the certification level corresponds to an average of the responses of the customizable dummy finite element model at the certification level to which the first finite element factor profiles correspond.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and

a customizable dummy finite element model for a dummy hardware model stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the stored customizable dummy finite element model including a mesh for the dummy hardware model, finite element factors that define attributes of the mesh, a mapping function that indicates a response of the customizable dummy finite element model at a certification level as a function of the finite element factors, and computer-executable instructions that, upon execution by a processor, causes the processor to:

receive a user input parameter for the customizable dummy finite element model that defines a target response for the customizable dummy finite element model at the certification level;

determine values for the finite element factors that correspond to the target response using the mapping function; and

apply the determined values to the customizable dummy finite element model to generate a customized dummy finite element model corresponding to the target response.