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EDSMAC — Vehicle Collision Simulator

Engineering Dynamics Company Simulation Model of Automobile Collisions

Version 4 — Fifth Edition (January 2006), converted to Markdown and updated to match the current HVE release (July 2026 edition).

EDSMAC is a simulation analysis of single- or two-vehicle crashes, based on the SMAC program developed at Calspan for NHTSA, with extensions by Engineering Dynamics Company, LLC. This manual describes the model features and use; input parameters and output reports are described at a high level. It is intended to be used in conjunction with the HVE-2D User's Manual, which provides in-depth coverage of the vehicle and environment models, as well as the Event Editor and Playback Editor.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1 — EDSMAC Program Description — Overview, model inputs and outputs, validation, basic procedure
  2. Chapter 2 — EDSMAC Program Input — Vehicles, environment, event set-up, driver controls, simulation controls, calculation options, barrier collisions
  3. Chapter 3 — EDSMAC Program Output — Alpha-numeric reports, variable output tables, trajectory and damage profile simulations
  4. Chapter 4 — Calculation Method — Equations of motion, collision phase, trajectory phase, assumptions
  5. Chapter 5 — EDSMAC Tutorial — A complete visibility/avoidability study, from vehicle creation to printed reports
  6. Chapter 6 — Messages — Complete list of fatal, diagnostic and informative messages
  7. Chapter 7 — Technical References
  8. Chapter 8 — Index — Topic-to-chapter guide (replaces the printed page index)

Notes on this edition

This Markdown edition preserves the substance of the Fifth Edition manual and has been checked against the current EDSMAC physics model and the current HVE user interface. Where the original manual was stale, the text follows the current program behaviour and is marked with (updated: ...) notes. Key updates:

  • Calculation option defaults and labels (Vector Spacing default 2.0 deg; the vector force tolerance is now labelled "Max Pressure Error").
  • Corrected descriptions of the two friction options (Inter-vehicle Friction is the friction coefficient; Minimum Velocity for Friction is the minimum relative velocity).
  • The restitution model \(e = C_0 - C_1\delta + C_2\delta^2\) with current default coefficients.
  • Terrain search options are now in the separate Get Surface Information Options dialog; the "By Elevation" method is not supported.

Screenshots from the original manual are not reproduced; italic placeholders give the figure caption for each.

Next: Chapter 1 — EDSMAC Program Description →