Case Study: Fraunhofer Institute for High‑Speed Dynamics achieves validated high‑speed impact, shock, and blast simulations with ANSYS AUTODYN

Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics - Customer Case Study

The Fraunhofer Institute for High‑Speed Dynamics (Ernst‑Mach‑Institute, EMI) conducts experimental and numerical analysis of high‑speed processes — shock waves, fluid flow and combustion, impact and penetration across velocities from 10 m/s to 10 km/s — and needed a robust simulation capability for events like meteorite and space‑debris impacts, explosive blasts, missile intercepts and armor perforation. To meet this need, EMI uses AUTODYN provided through ANSYS as its primary hydrocode for modelling these extreme dynamic events.

ANSYS’s AUTODYN has been in continuous use at EMI for more than 10 years, enabling investigation of massive deformation and failure with a wide spectrum of validated material models and extensible user subroutines. The ANSYS solution has strengthened EMI’s R&D and vulnerability‑analysis workflows, supporting regular simulations (e.g., blast, impact, lethality and behind‑armor debris studies) and allowing problem‑oriented code enhancements to improve analysis fidelity.

Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics

Stefan Hiermaier

Deputy Director