Simulation
TRL is world famous for the work it undertakes testing vehicles, roads, bridges and people. Today's electronic environment means a vast amount of TRL's work is now undertaken at individuals' desks or in modelling suites. Former full-scale testing now includes hundreds of design changes and tests at the click of a mouse. |
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TRL is at the forefront of simulation and modelling. It plays a leading role in understanding how simulation relates to physical testing and real-life scenarios and has made a large contribution to saving lives around the world. Our simulation and modelling experience is vast and covers a diverse range of skills and expertise including:
Driving Simulation
TRL is home to the UK's premier driving simulation centre and houses both car and truck full-mission driving simulators in addition to a host of technology designed to re-create and assess many of the tasks associated with driving.
Traffic Software
TRL develops and sells a wide and comprehensive range of software products and services including software design and development, consultancy services, junction and network analysis, and database and spreadsheet development. Our modelling software includes strategic transport models capable of simulating a range of transport changes including:
- Park and Ride modelling at multiple sites
- road user charging
- parking supply and charging
- public transport supply and fares
- introduction of new railway stations and new modes such as LRT.
Road and Traffic Modelling
We provide modelling of road networks and traffic, enabling local authorities to make informed decisions on new road designs and improvements to current networks. This work also adds to ideas for easing congestion, reduces the number of accidents at blackspots and generally improves overall road travel.
Structural Modelling of Vehicles, Components, Large Structures and the Human Body using CAE
TRL offers an extensive range of numerical simulation research and consultancy expertise to the automotive industry in the primary areas of safety, impact and biomechanics.
TRL is recognised as one of the world's leading organisations in vehicle safety and offers companies and governments assistance in this field. Our computer-aided engineering (CAE) capabilities are supported by our state-of-the-art hardware, leading software and innovative mathematical modelling techniques.
TRL's team of finite element (FE) analysts aim to produce valuable, timely and cost-effective solutions and are supported by the dedicated FE and multibody software LS-DYNA, RADIOSS and MADYMO. Previous studies involved the investigation of dynamic and highly non-linear impacts such as sub-system or component, vehicle and barrier crash events, in addition to biomechanical, pedestrian and occupant safety studies. Validated FE barrier models and a suite of dummy and human body FE and multibody models are on hand for design and development, analysis, optimisation and validation studies.
Examples of TRL's FE analyses of vehicle-to-barrier impacts can be found via the following links:
For all enquiries, please email safety@trl.co.uk quoting ‘CAE' in the email title.
3D Scanning and Reconstruction
State-of-the-art laser scanning equipment, computer modelling and reconstruction technologies are applied by TRL to provide a new perspective in preserving and analysing complex sites and incident scenes. Large-scale and complex incident or crash scenes are measured and preserved in great detail, providing a key source of information for investigators. These can later be modelled in 3D providing virtual tours and fly-through scenarios capable of being viewed from any angle or perspective. These models are validated to the greatest detail and have been used to provide evidence in court, at national inquiries and in stakeholders' consultations.
Load-cell Wall
TRL's load cell wall forms part of our crash-testing innovation capability. It incorporates state-of-the-art sensors measuring all the forces involved in vehicle crash-testing. TRL helps to identify hard and weak spots in vehicle design and pioneers research programmes in the development of compatibility and crash interaction between vehicles. TRL understands the comprehensive crash profiles and dynamics of vehicles and contributes to the safely designed vehicles we drive today. All of TRL's facilities and leading-edge technology ensure we can carry out tests in secure, safe and controlled conditions.
If you're interested in learning more about the topics covered in this section, or you can't find what you're looking for and would like to talk to someone in detail about a specific topic, please complete the enquiry form at the foot of this page - one of our experts will contact you as soon as possible.
