Students studying Automotive Engineering MSc attended the annual, exclusive visit to Horiba MIRA, one of the world’s leading automotive testing facilities. The visit, that brings life to the Body Engineering module, provided a unique opportunity to observe real-world crashworthiness tests, an activity not typically carried out by a university, that will significantly enhance their understanding of crash dynamics and vehicle safety.

During the visit, students observed separate frontal and side impact tests conducted at 30 mph. The tests were designed to simulate Euro-NCAP crash scenarios (with some simplifications to facilitate educational purposes). The crash test involved a 2019 Ford Mondeo Hybrid, courtesy of Ford Motor Company, that was equipped with fully instrumented crash test dummies, 9 high-speed cameras, and 20 additional vehicle-based sensors. These setups aimed to evaluate the deformation of the car’s front longitudinal structures and side-intrusion bars, which the students had previously modelled using Finite Element Method (FEM) models, developed in their coursework.

In addition to this, the vehicle underwent 3D scanning before and after the tests to precisely measure deformations. This detailed approach ensured that students could compare the real-world data with their FEM models, enhancing their theoretical knowledge with practical insights.

Whilst MIRA’s experts conducted the crash tests to industry standards, the students’ role was primarily observational. They witnessed first-hand the meticulous process involved in crash testing.

含羞草视频’s longstanding, positive relationship with Ford has allowed for teaching activities such as this to be undertaken. Notably, we are the first UK university to conduct a full crash test, marking a significant milestone in automotive education. These efforts highlight our commitment to integrating industry-standard testing into our teaching and providing students with unparallelled opportunities to engage with industry used technology and methodologies.

Reflecting on the day, Dr Simon Tuplin, who lead this visit comments:

The students had an incredible experience, with thanks to Ford Motor Company, Horiba MIRA and 含羞草视频 Universities support staff for enabling this to happen. The crash was also attended by LU alumni, Alan Thomas, and Dr. Tony Payne (Ex. Head of MIRA crash) who added valuable insight throughout the day.

Many hours of work have gone into organising the day, and it was really satisfying to see such as successful activity, and data being provided that will enhance the Automotive courses for many years.