Vehicle Dynamics
Center of Gravity and Inertia Testing
S-E-A is a long-time leader in vehicle testing & safety and custom engineering solutions for the transportation industry. Our Vehicle Inertia Measurement Facility (VIMF) is the premier, state-of-the-art system for measuring mass, center of gravity (CG), and inertia properties for a broad range of vehicle types. The S-E-A Vehicle Evaluation Center houses testing equipment that is relied upon by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to measure the Static Stability Factor (SSF) of all new model vehicles in the United States as part of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
That same state-of-the-art equipment is available for use by clients who need the most accurate results possible. The equipment can measure overall mass, center of gravity, and the moments and products of inertia on anything from components up to large vehicles.
Types of Center of Gravity and Inertia Testing
Center of gravity and inertia measurements can be performed on new vehicles and equipment to predict how it will perform in different scenarios. Our facilities are large enough to test everything from individual components up to heavy machinery and military vehicles. The tests are computer controlled with database management capability and provide accurate feedback.
Commonly tested items include, but are not limited to, the following, and S-E-A is equipped to handle one-off cases for other items as well:
- Passenger vehicles
- Off-Road Vehicles (ATVs, ROVs & Golf Carts)
- Military vehicles
- Heavy trucks
- Engines and powertrains
- Wheels and tires
- Seat assemblies
- Recreational vehicles
Most of the items S-E-A tests in this manner are from the automotive and transportation industries because this information is most relevant to their specific needs. Inertia measurement of engines and powertrains can help determine the optimal location for engine mounts and reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).
Center of Gravity and Inertia Testing Services
The Vehicle Dynamics Division has the capability of conducting CG and inertia measurements for vehicles and components at S-E-A’s corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.
Do you want to test your vehicle on the same equipment that the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSA) uses for their New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) ratings? Contact [email protected] to see how we can help meet your testing needs.
Customized Equipment
S-E-A has provided CG and inertia equipment to the automotive industry for over 25 years. These machines have been installed at facilities all over the world, including the United States, Japan, Korea, China, and India.
In 1994, the S-E-A Vehicle Dynamics Team built our first ever Vehicle Inertia Measurement Facility (VIMF), our acclaimed system for measuring vehicle mass, center of gravity, and inertia properties. We were proud to sell our first VIMF to Ford Motor Company then, and we are proud to supply them a new, state-of-the-art, larger capacity VIMF 27 years later.
Thank you to our friends at Ford for trusting the S-E-A Vehicle Dynamics team to help them preserve the design quality of their vehicles for years to come.
How can we help?
S-E-A brings experience and expertise, coupled with the latest technology to our clients – contact us to find the right professionals and solutions for you.