Element is a leading provider of specialized real-time simulation and testing services to the global automotive industry. Our experts apply automotive simulation testing to components, systems, and full vehicles to provide the highest quality data to ensure the proper functionality of your products.

Real-time simulation provides valuable data for evaluating product life and identifying deficient areas in the design. Simulation also reduces test duration compared to proving ground durability schedules and is, therefore, a useful tool to accelerate time to market and minimize long-term costs.

Be it evaluating individual components, sub-systems, or full systems, Element’s engineers support you through the whole product development process, developing comprehensive test plans tailored to fit your specific needs. We have experience with steering, exhaust, interior, and suspension systems, and can perform corner module, half vehicle and full vehicle fixed reacted, or inertia reacted simulation tests.

Our real-time automotive simulation testing capabilities

Element’s team of simulation experts offer extensive real-time simulation testing capabilities that cover a broad range of motor vehicles, including passenger cars, light and heavy trucks, buses, off-highway equipment, and more.

We utilize innovative test equipment, including Multi-Axial Simulation Tables (MAST), 4-Post road simulators, single and multi-axial servo-hydraulic systems, custom-built bed plates, and spindle-coupled simulators (MTS 329 simulators). Our equipment allows us to test a broad range of vehicle components and systems, from chassis and suspensions to seats, interiors, cooling modules, axles, engines and powertrain systems.

We also offer real-time simulation for testing Buzz, Squeak, and Rattle (BSR) to determine the fit and wear of vehicle components as they are perceived acoustically.

To learn more about our real-time simulation testing, or to speak with one of our experts, contact us today.

Element offers 4 & 6-post simulation as an effective and inexpensive method of performing full vehicle structural durability, supporting the global automotive and military industries. We test a variety of vehicle types, from passenger cars to light trucks up to circa 11,000 lb. GVW. 

Our 4 & 6-post simulator accurately reproduces vertical road surface events out to 50 Hz. We also have the capability to provide environmental conditioning to include high and low temperatures (-40°C to + 85°C), relative humidity (up to 95%), and full spectrum solar radiation. These combined inputs provide the OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers with an invaluable tool for advanced and ongoing development of modern vehicle systems. 

Typical test applications include:

Element’s laboratories are equipped with multi-axial road simulators to provide durability testing of full or partial vehicle systems via simulation of proving ground-measured responses, random/sine inputs, or generic drive-file responses. 

Our test systems allow testing a variety of vehicle types, from passenger cars to light trucks up to approximately 11,000 lb. GVW. Our expertise in real-time simulation within the transportation and automotive industries enables us to test different systems, from frame, suspension, and body to many partial vehicle systems, including front/rear suspension, and suspension to frame interface. 

We also perform corner module and half car simulation tests as an alternative to full vehicle simulation when preliminary results are required early in the development process.

Typical test applications include:

Element’s state-of-the-art servo-hydraulic equipment replicates a variety of environmental conditions encountered during the operation of a vehicle system. 

Servo-hydraulic testing of components and systems is particularly suited for applications in automotive, military, commercial, construction, agricultural, and rail to replicate real-time conditions (loads, forces, displacements, and accelerations) on your components. 

Testing requires the help of complex test infrastructure. Our laboratories house both single and multi-axial servo-hydraulic systems as well as custom-built bed plates designed to accommodate your specific testing requirements.

Typical test applications include: 

  • Power cycling batteries
  • Body assemblies
  • Engine mounts
  • Hot exhaust systems
  • Fuel tanks for automotive and military applications
  • Hoses
  • HVAC systems
  • Instrument panels
  • Powertrain mounts
  • Radiators
  • Seats
  • Electrical systems

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