Press archive - Simulation for personal protection

We live in turbulent times; the increase in acts of terrorism but also burglaries and thefts show how important security concepts for private and public spaces are. Through crash simulations, Merkle & Partner offers companies in the security sector the opportunity to bring corresponding security products to market faster and with optimized design.

Created by Dipl.-Ing. (TU) Stefan Merkle

07/14/2020

What protection do concrete stoppers, drive-through barriers or wedge barriers really provide? To what extent are mesh fences, gates, barriers or bollards an effective barrier? Manufacturers are required by law to conduct and demonstrate product testing. Computer-aided simulations have long since been approved by most authorities. With enormous advantages.

In general, computer-aided simulations for crash tests and product tests are cheaper than real tests by a factor of more than two and faster by a factor of more than three. In addition, simulation provides insights that would not have been noticed via real tests, or only at a late stage. Several product components can be tested and viewed at the same time. In contrast to real testing, the general conditions can be changed very quickly and economically. Product development receives valuable data that can then still be verified in the real test - but in many cases no longer needs to be.

In order to fully exploit the advantages of simulation, technical expertise and experience are required. Mere structural analysis is far from sufficient; the physics must be accurately represented in the software, geometries, calculation methods and the use of the right software, including the combination of calculation tools if necessary, determine the result.

"We have already supported customers in the field of concrete stoppers, as well as steel bollards, gates and doors, barriers and wedge barriers by simulation calculations in product development," says Stefan Merkle, Managing Director of Merkle & Partner GbR, adding, "Provided that real tests are still necessary, it makes a big difference whether only a few tests are necessary, which are then usually passed, or whether you have to find out on the basis of the test which component is currently failing."