Pam-Crash

Pam-Crash was a finite element analysis (FEA) software package widely used for simulating crash events and impact scenarios, particularly in the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. Developed and initially maintained by ESI Group, it was known for its explicit time integration scheme, making it well-suited for modeling highly dynamic and nonlinear problems involving large deformations, material failure, and contact interactions.

Pam-Crash enabled engineers to predict the structural response of vehicles and other structures during collisions, helping them to optimize designs for improved safety and performance. It supported a wide range of material models, element types, and contact algorithms, allowing for the accurate representation of complex physical phenomena.

Common applications of Pam-Crash included:

• Crashworthiness Analysis: Assessing the structural integrity of vehicles during front, side, rear, and rollover impacts to meet regulatory requirements and improve occupant safety.
• Occupant Safety Simulation: Evaluating the performance of restraint systems (seatbelts, airbags) and predicting occupant kinematics and injury risk during crashes.
• Component Testing: Simulating the behavior of individual components (e.g., bumpers, doors, instrument panels) under impact loading.
• Drop Testing: Analyzing the response of products and packaging during drop events to ensure product protection.
• Ballistics and Penetration Studies: Simulating the penetration of projectiles into structures.

ESI Group stopped the active development and sales of Pam-Crash. The software's functionality and market position have been significantly affected by the discontinuation of updates and support. Other FEA software packages have since become more prevalent for similar applications.