
Heavy Trucks
Heavy truck front-end collisions are a leading cause of roadway fatalities. Our research helps government agencies and manufacturers understand what makes these collisions survivable — from underride protection to rollover structures.


01
Underride Protection
We've evaluated both rigid and energy-absorbing European underride designs, developing front protection systems that meaningfully improve safety outcomes. We've also studied rear underride mounting across a range of vehicle engagement configurations.

02
Rollover Protection
Our techniques for evaluating heavy truck rollover occupant protection inform the design of compartment structures that maintain survival space while accounting for restraint system performance.

03
Certification Methodologies
Virtual finite element techniques let us evaluate heavy truck crashworthiness across impact conditions that would be impossible — or far too costly — to test physically.

04
Fuel Tank Protection
Our frame and tank design techniques have demonstrated fuel tank protection in fixed-object impacts up to 60 mph and vehicle-to-vehicle impacts up to 70 mph.

05
Tire-Soil Interaction
Advanced 3D soil testing feeds directly into our finite element models, letting us evaluate tire traction and stability across different soil conditions.

06
Composite Structures
We design advanced composite structures for heavy truck cabs and frames using forged composite, S2 and E-glass, and carbon prepreg — fabricated through vacuum infusion and compression methods.



Contact us about the Heavy Trucks Services


