In recent decades, numerical simulation of crash events has become one ofthe key topics in the reduction of costs for the phases of development ofnew automotive products. The former conception as a tool to provide qualitative support to designers has evolved up to the point of talking about "virtual testing" and about the feasibility of including it in standards and regulations. This evolution of the perspectives requires more and more predictive simulation models, leading to a continuous improvement in the mathematical reproduction of the physical reality. Within this background, the correct numerical reproduction of the material behaviour has a criticalrole. The techniques for material characterization have also evolved fromthe use of simplified curves obtained from scarcely instrumented tensile tests, including strain rate dependency in a higher or lower degree, up tothe use of complex yield surfaces obtained from the exhaustive analysis of the local phenomena that occur during the necking process in tensile tests, as well as the inclusion of other load cases different to the uniaxialtension. The current study reflects the results of some studies about theinfluence of different levels of material characterization on the correctreproduction of the material behaviour. The base case is the simulation of the characterization tests themselves, analyzing both local and global parameters for the validation of the models. Three different materials (onemetallic and two plastics respectively) have been used in these studies, trying to deepen into their basic characteristics and requirements. Finally, a load case closer to a common energy absorption application has been chosen for the case of the plastics in order to illustrate and validate thehypothetical consequences of the use of the different material definitions. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0331.pdf For the covering abstract see ITRD E145407.
Abstract