The analytical capabilities of DRI are supported by proprietary as well as commercial computer software for analysis, simulation, and data reduction. These programs are run on in-house computer systems which include a Silicon Graphics ONYX IR super computer, Silicon Graphics workstations, a network of Windows and Linux PC microcomputers, and an extensive array of peripheral devices.

The DRI staff has developed and applied a number of computer simulations for vehicle dynamics and control analysis. Available versions involve a wide range of vehicles, such as:

• Passenger vehicles
• Trucks and utility vehicles
• Motorcycles
• All terrain vehicles
• Articulated vehicles, trailers
• Buses
• Aircraft

These have been developed in connection with projects for the government and the private sector. They range from relatively simple, linearized lateral or longitudinal models to more complicated non-linear, all axis models involving large motions. Other proprietary programs are available in such areas as:

• System Identification and optimization
• Structural analysis including crashworthiness-related applications
• Large scale experimental data post processing and analysis
• Control systems analysis

The simulation and analysis programs are typically in FORTRAN, C OR C++. New special purpose deliverable software can also be provided for Windows, DOS, MATLAB and other environments. DRI also owns or licenses large scale software systems to support simulation and analysis. These include the following software packages:

• ATB, US Air Force "Articulated Total Body" program for modeling of multi-body systems and impacts (equivalent to NHTSA CVS crash simulation)
  
• DRI/ATB1, which couples LS-DYNA3D non-linear finite element code to ATB (DRI proprietary product)
  
• MADYMO, multi-body and finite element program for the analysis and modeling of crash mechanics
  
• ADAMS, for multi-body vehicle dynamics modeling and simulation
  
• VISIONFORM, for high speed 3D graphics and animations of time history results and simulator roadway scenes (licensable through Kinetic Visuals, a DRI subsidary)
  
• NASTRAN, finite element code
  
• ANSYS, finite element code
  
• MATLAB, for PC based analysis and data reduction

Overall, these software capabilities fully complement DRI's computing hardware resources, and enable an applied research group the size of DRI to accomplish very significant experiments, analyses, simulations and hardware and software development to support the needs of our clients.