CarSim Quick Start PDF

CarSim
Quick Start Guide
Version 9.0
Mechanical Simulation
Table of Contents
1. Introduction........................................................................ 3
2. Viewing CarSim Results.................................................... 4
Start CarSim.................................................................................... 4
Go to the CarSim Quick Start Dataset ............................................ 5
The CarSim Run Control (Home) Window Layout........................ 8
View a Simulated Video ................................................................. 9
View Video + Plots....................................................................... 12
View Model Information .............................................................. 20
3. Running New Simulations ............................................... 23
Make a New Database................................................................... 23
Run a Simulation........................................................................... 26
Run with a Different Vehicle Speed ............................................. 27
4. Making New Vehicles ..................................................... 32
Create a Modified Vehicle ............................................................ 32
Navigate the CarSim Database...................................................... 40
Create a Vehicle with Shared Datasets ......................................... 44
5. Managing Data................................................................. 48
Make a New Plot Dataset.............................................................. 48
Add a Plot to a Procedure Dataset................................................. 53
Copy Data from One Database to Another ................................... 54
Look at a Configurable Function .................................................. 61
View a Vehicle with Payloads ...................................................... 64
Browse the Installed Database ...................................................... 66
6. Learning More About CarSim ......................................... 67
CarSim Help System..................................................................... 67
Math Model Documentation ......................................................... 69
The CarSim Web Site ................................................................... 71
What to Read Next........................................................................ 72
NOTICE
This manual describes software that is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or
copied only in accordance with the terms of such agreement. BikeSim, CarSim, SuspensionSim,
TruckSim, VehSim, and VehicleSim are registered trademarks of Mechanical Simulation
Corporation.
© 1996 – 2014, Mechanical Simulation Corporation.
Last updated October 2014
— ii —
1. Introduction
This guide will introduce you to CarSim 9.0. It shows the basics for simulating tests, viewing
results, making changes to the vehicle and test procedure, and managing data in CarSim
databases.
No experience with using the software is assumed. If you have used versions of CarSim older
than version 9.0, we strongly recommend that you work through this guide. CarSim 9 introduces
a new plotting tool that has many features that were never available before. Also, the database
management has been changed to simplify some operations.
What You Will Learn

High-fidelity simulation of vehicle dynamics requires extensive data. CarSim includes a database
with many example vehicles and test procedures. If you are new to CarSim, the graphical user
interface (GUI) and database will not be familiar at first. This guide is organized to introduce the
major elements of the GUI and database so that you will be aware of the major features in
CarSim. When you complete the guide, you should be familiar with the CarSim organization and
basic tools.
This guide is intended to introduce you to some good practices for using CarSim. As such, it will
show you how to make a new database, and how to make new datasets without conflicting with
existing datasets.
The steps in this guide follow a simple tutorial that you should follow in sequence. If you do this,
the figures in this guide should match the windows you see in CarSim.
It is not necessary to master every option and feature in CarSim during this tutorial — CarSim
has extensive documentation included in the software that you can use later on to refresh your
memory, as described at the conclusion of this Guide.
Before You Start

Before starting, there are just a few requirements.
1. CarSim must be installed on your computer. If you have not yet installed CarSim, log into
your computer as an administrator, launch the installation program
Setup_CarSim_9.0.exe, and follow the instructions.
2. You must have a valid CarSim 9.0 license key, as described during the installation.
3. You will need to know the location of a file named CarSim90_Quick_Start.cpar.
(See chapter 3 for details.)
—3—
2. Viewing CarSim Results
Let’s start by viewing some of the simulation results generated by CarSim.
Start CarSim
Start CarSim by using the Start menu shortcut: Programs > CarSim 9.0 > CarSim or by
double-clicking a CarSim icon on your desktop.
When CarSim starts, it brings up a dialog box to select a database (Figure 1). If you have just
installed CarSim for the first time, there will be only one database shown.
Figure 1: Open the database from the CarSim installation.

For the purpose of this tutorial, do not check the box to skip this window .
Choose the example database that was installed with CarSim and click the button Continue
with the selected database .
Alert The first time you launch CarSim, a License Settings window will pop
up (Figure 2). Click the Select button to continue launching CarSim.
Note the checkbox with the caption: Don’t show this window when
starting . If you are using a network license, do not check this box;
you may need to select different license features in the future.
CarSim opens with a view of the most recently visited data screen. The first time CarSim is
launched following installation, this will be the CarSim Run Control screen (Home, Figure 3).
—4—
Chapter 2 Viewing CarSim Results
Figure 2. Window with license settings.
Figure 3. The CarSim Run Control (Home) screen.
Go to the CarSim Quick Start Dataset

1. For the purpose of this tutorial, use the View menu to make sure options are set to Show
Button Toolbar, Show Button Labels, and Show Sidebar (Figure 4).
—5—
Figure 4. The View menu.

Use the View menu to set the window size to match common settings in Windows. Small
size is standard (text is sized at 100%); medium matches when text is set to 125%; large fills
your screen. All of the figures in this guide were made with the Small setting.
2. Click the Home button (Figure 3) to view the main CarSim window.
Note In CarSim documentation, the word dataset refers to the contents of a

single file containing data. Whenever you are viewing a CarSim window,
you are seeing the contents of a single dataset. For example, when
viewing the CarSim Run Control screen you are seeing a dataset. This
can include numerical values and links to other datasets.
A library is a collection of datasets that share a common screen
configuration for a common type of data. For example, CarSim Run
Control is a library containing datasets, with each representing a
different simulation run.
A category is an additional organizational tool, used to group related
datasets within a library. In the case of the baseline dataset shown in
Figure 3, the category is * * Quick Start Guide Example and the
dataset is named Baseline.
3. Look at the CarSim window title. If it ends with the category and name {* * Quick Start
Guide} Baseline (Figure 3), then you are looking at the right dataset; please continue
with step 4. Otherwise, use the Datasets menu (Figure 5) to show all of the datasets in this
library. Select the dataset * * Quick Start Guide Example > Baseline. After you make this
selection, the screen should appear much like Figure 3.
Figure 5. Use the Datasets menu to find the Quick Start Guide Example > Baseline.
—6—
Alert If you or someone else has been using the CarSim database, there is a
small chance that the Quick Start Guide Baseline dataset does not exist.
In this case, follow the instructions in the first two sections in the next
chapter to make a database with this Baseline example (these are sections
Make a New Database and Run a Simulation, starting on page 23).
Then return here to follow the steps for viewing simulation results.
4. Right-click and hold on the Help button for a tool tip (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Right-click and hold for information about a button or other control.
Note The right mouse button is used throughout CarSim to obtain tool tips.
Right-click and hold on buttons, fields, and various control objects to
obtain short summaries of their functions.
5. Click the Help button. This launches the Adobe Reader program with a PDF documentation
file for the current screen (Figure 7).
At any time, the documentation for the current screen can be obtained with this button or by
typing the F1 key. The Help menu can also be used to access many volumes of
documentation installed with CarSim.
Note All of the PDF documents in CarSim that are more than a few pages in
length include bookmarks for rapid access to sections of interest. For
example, Figure 7 shows the bookmarks for the Run Control Screen
document . Click on a topic such as Run Control to jump to that
section of the document .
After you have gone through this tutorial, you can return to the documentation for the Run
Control screen. For now, close the PDF window.
Review You have adjusted the appearance of the CarSim window by browsing
to a dataset that you will use in this tutorial. You have seen built-in
help available by right-clicking, typing F1, and using the Help button.
The Help menu gives direct access to all Help documents.
—7—
Figure 7. Documentation about the current screen.
The CarSim Run Control (Home) Window Layout

The CarSim Run Control screen is the starting point to access the main tools and datasets in
CarSim (Figure 8).
The blue boxes on the screen are links to more data, similar to links shown on web pages
(sometimes called hyperlinks).
The main part of the screen is divided into three sections. The left column, titled Simulated Test
Specifications, has a blue link to the vehicle data to be used in the simulation, and at least one
blue link to a dataset that defines the test procedure.
The middle column has controls for running the CarSim Math Models. Later on, you will use the
button here to perform new simulations.
The right column, titled Analyze Results (Post Processing), provides access to the video and
plotting options for visualizing simulation results.
—8—
Figure 8. Layout of the CarSim Run Control screen.
View a Simulated Video

In this section, you will visualize simulated test results with a virtual video camera.
1. Right-click on the Video button on the CarSim Run Control screen for the button tool tip.
Then click the Video button. VS Visualizer (the animation and plotting tool in CarSim) will
show an animation of the run (Figure 9).
2. For the purpose of this tutorial, use the View menu in VS Visualizer to make sure
options are checked for Time control and Time multiplier .
VS Visualizer combines the results of a simulated test with a simulated video camera. If the
animation is running, click the pause button to stop it while you adjust the camera.
Click and hold mouse buttons in the animation display region and use simple sweeping
motions to move the simulated camera:
a. Sweep (left, right, up, down) while pressing the right mouse button to circle around
the vehicle.
b. Sweep up and down while pressing both the left and right mouse buttons to move the
camera closer or further away from the vehicle. (If you have a middle mouse button,
you can press this to accomplish the same thing.)
—9—
Figure 9. A VS Visualizer window.

c. Press the shift key while pressing the right mouse button in the viewing area; sweep
in any direction to “drag” the viewing area. This changes the aim of the camera. Once
you move the mouse, a view of the current axes appears with a box at the center of
the viewing area (Figure 10).
Figure 10. View of the axes origin and direction when shift-dragging.
d. Go to the menu Help > Video window mouse/keyboard controls or press the F1
key. This brings up a window showing all of the controls affecting the camera
(Figure 11). Close the window after reviewing the contents.
— 10 —
Figure 11. Mouse controls for the VS Visualizer video window.

3. Consider the time controls at the bottom of the screen (Figure 12).
a. Notice the slider at the bottom of the screen . As the animation runs, the slider
moves from left to right. The current time (e.g., 1.916 s) is also shown .
Figure 12. Time controls for VS Visualizer.

b. If the animation is paused, play it by clicking the play/pause button or pressing
the space key on your keyboard. (If the spacebar does not work, click in the
animation area with the left mouse button to ensure it is “active.”) If the animation is
playing, pause it by clicking the play/pause button or pressing the space key on
your keyboard.
c. When the animator is paused, move the slider to locate any point in the run.
d. When the animator is paused, click on the slider and then use the ® and ¬ keys to
move the slider forward and backward in the animation (this accomplishes a very
slow motion).
4. The playback speed is normally real-time. However, you can control the speed interactively
with additional time controls.
a. With the video playing, move the time multiplier slider left and right to adjust the
time scale (shown in the field ). This ranges from fast-forward (far right) to fast-
reverse (far left) to slow motion (middle of the scale). If your mouse has the middle
scroll wheel, this will also work.
b. Move the jog/shuttle slider left and right to temporarily adjust the speed. When
you release the control, the animation goes back to the current time scale setting .
— 11 —
c. Restore the speed to 1x (real time) . The direction (forward/reverse) is unaffected.

d. Reverse the direction (forward/reverse) with this shortcut button .
5. VS Visualizer normally renders scenes with 3D objects whose shapes are defined by sets of
polygons. To see the polygon edges, left-click anywhere in the 3D view to make it active,
then type Ctrl+W repeatedly to cycle through several viewing modes (Figure 13). You can
also change the render modes using the View menu.
Figure 13. A view showing wireframes.

6. Exit VS Visualizer by clicking the X button in the upper-right corner of the window or by
typing Alt+F4. You should once again be viewing the CarSim Run Control screen (it may
have been hidden in the background).
Review You have now gone through the main interactive controls for using VS
Visualizer for viewing video. The next section continues with VS
Visualizer, adding plots.
View Video + Plots

VS Visualizer can show a video alone, as you just saw. It can also show plots alone, and it can
show both. When you are familiar with the software and the simulated test maneuvers, you will
often use VS Visualizer solely to show plots. However, when getting familiar with test
conditions, the option to view synchronized videos and plots can give you exceptional insight.
— 12 —
1. From the Run Control screen, click the Video + Plot button. In a few seconds, the VS
Visualizer window will appear showing the same video seen in the previous section, along
with plots for variables of interest for the double lane-change procedure (Figure 14).
Figure 14. Initial VS Visualizer view with video animation plus a grid of plots.
VS Visualizer is giving access to a great deal of information here. Note that there are three
kinds of panels in this window:
a. The view from the virtual video camera.
b. A grid showing all plots that were set up from the CarSim GUI.
c. The time controls, including the slider bar that you use to control the video.
As with any window with multiple panels, only one panel has the “focus” of Windows OS.
If you press a keyboard key, it goes to the panel with the focus. For example, the time
control panel has the focus in Figure 14.
You can adjust the vertical dividing line between the Video and the Plot Grid; drag it left
and right with the left mouse button.
2. Test the controls in the time control panel:
a. Click the play/pause button a few times to confirm that it works the same as
before. Notice that the vertical cursor lines in each plot also move, showing the
points in each plot that match the simulation time. The simulation time is shown as
before at the right edge of the time control panel .
b. Confirm that the slider control still works to go to a time of interest, identified
either from a plot or the video.
— 13 —
c. Confirm that keyboard shortcuts still work if the slider control has the focus. Use the
spacebar to start and stop; use the arrow keys ® and ¬ to move forward or
backward in small increments.
3. Double click any of the plots to expand it (Figure 15). The plot should have a noticeable
black outline, as shown in the figure. If you have doubt about focus, simply click in the plot
space to assure that the plot panel has the focus and will therefore handle keyboard inputs.
Figure 15. View one of the plots.

4. Press the Page-Down key to view the next plot; use the Page-Up to view the previous one.
These keys can be used to rapidly cycle through the plots.
This example has nine plots; all are useful in evaluating the performance of the vehicle.
Look briefly at each. Later in this guide, you will see that hundreds of variables are
produced by the CarSim Math Models and can be easily plotted.
5. Go back to the grid view at any time by pressing the ‘z’ key. The currently active plot (the
one with the window focus) is always shown with the black outline (Figure 16).
Confirm that the page keys still work for cycling through the plots in the grid view.
Select the plot of vertical forces (Figure 16).
The ‘z’ key works both for maximum zoom and return to the grid. Confirm this by pressing
‘z’ to fully zoom in on the vertical force plot (Figure 17).
6. Press the ‘v’ key to show values for the four forces in the legend for the time indicated
by the cursor in the plot area, and by the time display shown at the right edge of the time
control panel . Move the slider control to see the values for any time of interest in the
run. Notice how the video, the plot cursor, and the text displays are all synchronized.
— 14 —
Figure 16. Grid view when the Vertical Forces plot has the focus.
Figure 17. View of vertical forces with digital display of variable values.
7. Recall that you can shrink or expand the view in the video panel by several means, with the
main one being the use of the middle mouse button (or the left and right buttons pressed
simultaneously). This also works in the plot area.
a. Press the middle mouse button (or the left and right pressed simultaneously) in the
plot region, and slide the mouse up and down to zoom in and out (Figure 18). The
cursor changes to a magnifying glass icon and a cross hair identifies the point
about which the zooming occurs.
— 15 —
Figure 18. Zoom in and out using the middle mouse button in the plot area.
b. Press the ‘r’ key to restore the plot scaling to the original view.
c. Move the cursor into the numbered part of the horizontal axis (Figure 19). The cursor
changes to indicate the horizontal effect . Press the left and right buttons
simultaneously and move the mouse left and right to zoom in and out in the
horizontal direction.
Figure 19. Zoom horizontally using the left and right mouse button in the horizontal axis area.
d. Move the cursor into the numbered part of the vertical axis . In this case, the
cursor changes to indicate a vertical effect. Press the left and right mouse buttons
— 16 —
simultaneously and move the mouse up and down to zoom in and out in the vertical
direction.
e. Another way to zoom is to use the left mouse button to drag a rectangle within the
plot area. When you release the button, the region you selected is zoomed to fill the
plot area.
8. When you are zoomed in, not all of the data are visible. You can pan the view area as
needed to bring more of the data into view. Three options are available for panning:
a. Press the right mouse button in the plot region and see that the icon changes to the
hand “drag” icon (Figure 20). Proceed to drag the plot contents in any direction.
Figure 20. Right-click and drag in the plot region to pan the whole plot in any direction.
b. Position the mouse in the numbered area of the horizontal axis. The cursor changes to
show a horizontal effect, as when zooming. Press the right mouse button and move
the mouse left or right to pan horizontally.
c. Position the mouse in the numbered area of the vertical axis. The cursor changes to
show a vertical effect, as when zooming. Press the right mouse button and move the
mouse up or down to pan vertically.
9. One of the plotted curves in the active plot is always selected, and is indicated by an outline
of the name in the legend. For example, the plot named “Tire L1 vertical” is selected in
Figure 20. You can jump to the point in the simulation where the selected plot has the
maximum or minimum value.
a. Press Ctrl plus the Up arrow key. VS Visualizer will jump to the time where the
maximum value of the selected variable occurs (Figure 21). In the figure, the value is
5853.3 N for the vertical force at the left front tire.
— 17 —
Figure 21. Use Ctrl+Up to go the maximum value for the selected data channel.
b. The video is synchronized and is therefore changed to show the corresponding point
in time. You can zoom and pan the video image as needed to see the orientation from
any view you wish.
c. Press Ctrl plus the Down arrow key. VS Visualizer will jump to the time where the
minimum value of the selected variable occurs.
d. Use the Tab key to cycle through the plots. For example, use the Tab key to select the
Tire R1 vertical force plot, and then use the Ctrl+Up and Ctrl+Down key
combinations to locate the times in the simulation when the right front tire force
reached maximum and minimum values.
10. Right-click and release anywhere in the plot area to view a pop-up menu with options for
working with the plot (Figure 22).
11. Go to the Help menu and select the item Plot window mouse/keyboard controls or press
the F1 key (if a plot panel has the focus). This brings up a window listing all of the controls
you have just tested (Figure 23). Close the window after reviewing the control options.
12. VS Visualizer initially shows the video window and plot grid within the same main window.
The video window can be undocked (drag the title bar area , Figure 21) outside the main
window, where you can size it as needed (Figure 24). Try this.
You can also add new video windows using the menu item View > New Animation
Windows, and add new plot windows using the menu item Plot > View Predefined Plot.
For example, Figure 24 shows the display when the video and the Vertical Forces plots are
each given their own windows, separate from the plot grid.
13. Exit VS Visualizer to return to the CarSim Run Control screen
— 18 —
Figure 22. Right click and release to view a pop-up menu with options for the plot.
Figure 23. Help window listing mouse and keyboard controls for plotting.
— 19 —
Figure 24. Visualizer windows can be added and located anywhere on your screen.
Review You have now gone through the main interactive controls for using VS
Visualizer. The following sections assume you are comfortable
zooming and viewing numerical values while synchronized with the
video. For more complete reference information, use the CarSim Help
menu and access the VS Visualizer reference manual (in the
Reference Manuals submenu).
View Model Information

On the CarSim Run Control screen, there is a View button (Figure 25) in the lower-right
corner of the screen that provides access to a number of machine-generated documents that
describe technical details about the CarSim Math Models.
— 20 —
Figure 25. View button in the lower-right corner of the CarSim Run Control screen.
1. Use the drop-down list next to the View button and select the first item Echo file with
initial conditions . Then click the View button to display the file in a text editor
(Figure 26).
Figure 26. Echo file generated for a simulation run.

2. Scroll through this Echo file in the editor. Note that it is organized into several sections,
going from top to bottom.
— 21 —
a. The top of the file has System Parameters that exist in any VS Math Model. These
include the time step, start time, stop time, etc. These parameters are listed in
alphabetical order.
b. The next section has Model Parameters (dimensions, masses, coefficients, etc.), also
listed in alphabetical order.
c. The file next lists all of the Configurable Function (tabular) data, used to describe
nonlinear properties of the vehicle such as the suspensions and tires, and to specify
some of the control inputs.
d. Go to the end of the file, and see that it contains about 5000 lines (approximately 80
pages when printed).
e. Exit the text editor (Alt+F4).
The Echo file is generated by a VS Solver (the part of CarSim that performs the math model
calculations) to document all of the properties of the CarSim Math Model that were used in
the simulation run. This file provides extensive documentation of the CarSim Math Model
capabilities that were pertinent for the run. More details about the file are provided in the
reference manual for VS Solver Programs, accessed from the Help menu.
You will read Echo files but not modify them. There are methods to use Echo files as inputs
to the CarSim Math Model, but this is an advanced topic beyond the scope of this tutorial.
Review You have now used buttons on the right-hand side of the Run Control
screen to view outputs from a CarSim Math Model: Video, Video +
Plot, and View. You interacted with VS Visualizer — the main tool in
CarSim for viewing results. You also looked at the Echo text file that
lists all parameters used in the simulation.
— 22 —
3. Running New Simulations
As you go through this chapter, you will run some new simulations in CarSim. But first, you will
create a new database in which to experiment, without risk of corrupting the original installed
database.
Make a New Database

1. If CarSim is still running, then select the File menu item New Database from a
Consolidated Parsfile (this is the second item from the top), and proceed to step 2.
If CarSim is not running, start it by using the Start menu shortcut: Programs > CarSim 9.0
> CarSim or by double-clicking a CarSim icon on your desktop.
When CarSim starts, it brings up the dialog box you saw before (in Chapter 2) to select a
database (Figure 27). This time, you will not use an existing database. Instead, click the
button to create a new database and proceed to step 2.
Figure 27: Create a new database for use with this Quick Start Guide.
2. A window will pop up describing the next steps to be taken to create a new database from
the consolidated parsfile. Read the message and click Continue. You will then be given the
Windows file browser to locate a consolidated parsfile (extension CPAR, Figure 28). Locate
the file for this Quick Start Guide: CarSim90_Quick_Start.cpar and click the Open
button to continue.
Note The CPAR file is in a folder [CarSim_Prog_Folder]\Resources\

Import_Examples, where [CarSim_Prog_Folder] is a location that
was specified when the software was installed on your computer.
— 23 —
Chapter 3 Running New Simulations
Figure 28. Locate the CarSim Quick Start CPAR file.
If you are not sure where the CarSim Prog folder is installed, you can
right-click on the CarSim item in your Windows Start menu and view the
properties. Another option for finding the CPAR file is to use Windows
to search for the file CarSim90_Quick_Start.cpar.
If you were already running in CarSim (that is, you selected the File menu item New
Database from a Consolidated Parsfile in step 1), you will be given a choice: Switch
(Same Window) or Additional Window; choose Switch (Same Window).
3. The Windows file browser will be shown again, prompting you make an empty folder for a
new CarSim database (Figure 29). To do this:
a. Navigate to a place on your hard drive for the new CarSim database folder. This
must be a location where you have read/write permission (e.g., My Documents).
b. Click the button Make New Folder .
c. The new folder will be highlighted with a name such as New Folder. While it is
highlighted, you can type a new name. Give it a suitable name, such as
CarSim_Data_QS . Warning: at this point, be careful not to click the New
Folder button again, or press the Enter key with the New Folder button selected (you
don’t want to create a second new folder!). Click the OK button to continue.
— 24 —
Figure 29. Create an empty folder for the new database.

A terminal window will pop up briefly listing files that are being copied. It will quickly
disappear.
Alert If your installation is set to show the License Settings window when
launching CarSim, you will once again see a license summary window
(Figure 30). Click the Select button to continue. There is a checkbox
to skip the display of this window that you might want to set ; do not
check this if you are using a network license because you might need
to select different license options in the future.
Figure 30. Window showing license settings.

CarSim will create the new database. When it completes, you should be looking at the Run
Control screen for the Quick Start Guide (Figure 31). This is similar in appearance to the
dataset you saw in Chapter 2.
— 25 —
Figure 31. Appearance of CarSim Run Control Screen after creation of the new database.
Notice that the Video and Plot buttons are dimmed. This is because the simulation output
files are not included in the CPAR file that you used to create this new database. Until you
run a simulation, there are no results to view. Also, notice that the Run Math Model button
is dimmed. This is because the dataset is locked. (All datasets in a new database are always
locked initially.)
The steps you have just taken for creating a new database are useful for creating a clean
database when starting a major new project; it is not necessary to repeat these steps for
everyday use of CarSim.
Review You have just gone through the steps needed to create a clean database
with only the data needed for the instructions that follow in this Quick
Start Guide.
Run a Simulation
You should still be viewing the locked CarSim Run Control screen for the single example
simulation in your new database (Figure 31).
1. Click the Lock button (Figure 32) to unlock this Run Control dataset. Notice that many
of the controls are now active, including the Run Math Model button . However, the
buttons for viewing videos and plots are still dimmed , because there are not yet any
simulation results to view.
Figure 32. Run Control screen once unlocked.
— 26 —
2. Right-click and hold on the Run Math Model button for a tool tip for this button. Recall
that you can always get tool tips in CarSim this way.
3. Click the Run Math Model button to make your first run. A status bar appears to show the
progress of the run (Figure 33). A CarSim Math Model runs significantly faster than real
time, so this will take just a few seconds.
Figure 33. Progress bar that is displayed when the CarSim Math Model is running.
When the run is complete, the progress bar disappears (Figure 34). The Video and Plot
buttons are now active because there are simulation results that can be viewed.
Figure 34. Baseline dataset after the first simulation was run.
4. Click the Video + Plot button , just as you did in the previous chapter. You should see
the same results from this new run in your new database that you saw before. Close VS
Visualizer when done.
Review You have just made your first simulation run in CarSim from the Run
Control screen. You will make many more — the fun is just getting
started!
Run with a Different Vehicle Speed

You should be viewing the CarSim Run Control screen with the dataset named Baseline in the
category * Quick Start Guide Example (Figure 34).
— 27 —
Note The category for the Baseline run in the new database is slightly different
than in the full CarSim database; it has a single asterisk rather than two.
This difference is intentional; it avoids name conflicts in the event that
datasets from one database are transferred to the other.
You will change the speed for the simulated test using this main screen.
1. Right-click the Duplicate button for the tool tip information. Then click the button to
duplicate the current dataset. You will be prompted to enter the name for the new dataset
(Figure 35). Enter a new name in the title field: My New Test . Click the Duplicate
button to finish the duplication of the Run Control dataset.
Figure 35. Setting the name of a new dataset.
Note At this point, you have not created a new vehicle or test procedure. You
have simply duplicated a Run Control dataset that will use the same
vehicle and procedure datasets as the original.
The new screen display is nearly identical to the previous one. Initially the main difference
is that the CarSim window has the new name in the title ( , Figure 36), and some buttons
are dimmed. You will now make additional changes as shown in Figure 36.
2. Check the box to show more options . More controls will appear in the bottom part of the
screen, including another checkbox to override driver controls .
3. Check the box to override driver controls . This will show more controls, including one
for vehicle speed .
4. Use the drop-down control for choosing a method for controlling vehicle speed and select
the option Constant target speed . A yellow field appears next to the control . Enter
the value 150.
— 28 —
Figure 36. The new Run Control dataset (after the speed is set).
Note The blue link to a Procedure dataset has a title that implies the test speed
is 120 km/h . Because the override controls appear in the Run Control
dataset after the Procedure blue link, this speed will override the value
specified in the linked Procedure dataset. This section of the Run
Control screen provides convenient controls to modify the test
conditions.
5. The Notes yellow field has text content from the original baseline Run Control dataset
that was copied. Edit this text to indicate that you have made changes.
6. Click the Run Math Model button. As before, a status bar shows the progress of the run.
7. When the run is complete, the Video and Plot buttons become active. Click the Video +
Plot button to view the simulation results with VS Visualizer. After viewing the results,
close VS Visualizer.
8. In the lower-right corner of the screen, right-click the checkbox Overlay animations and
plots with other runs (Figure 37) to read the tool tip, and then check the box. When
checked, results of multiple runs can be overlaid; potential links appear for selecting runs to
overlay.
9. Press the drop-down control to select an existing run to overlay. Choose Baseline
(from the submenu * Quick Start Guide Example). The screen should now show a blue
link (Figure 38).
— 29 —
Figure 37. Overlay a new run with the Baseline run.
Figure 38. Screen appearance when set to overlay results with the Baseline run.
10. Next to the Video + Plot button, right-click the checkbox Set color (Figure 39). The tool
tip indicates the vehicle color can be set here; check the box to reveal a color selector .
Figure 39. Option to set a run color.

11. Press the color selector button to display a color palette (Figure 40). For example, choose
yellow .
Figure 40. Color selector palette.
— 30 —
Note The new color affects the display in VS Visualizer. It does not affect
images in the CarSim GUI; for example, the image shown at the bottom
of the screen (Figure 38) will not change. The image on the Run Control
screen matches an image associated with the vehicle dataset contained
elsewhere in the database that uses the default color of the 3D object.
12. Click the Video button to view both runs in VS Visualizer (Figure 41). After viewing the
results, close VS Visualizer.
13. Use the Datasets menu (Figure 42) to return to the Baseline run .
Figure 41. Animation with overlay of two runs.
Figure 42. Use the Datasets menu to return to the Baseline dataset.
Review In this chapter you created a new database for running through the
instructions in this Quick Start Guide. You ran simulations with two
vehicle speeds and overlaid results in VS Visualizer.
The method used in this section of setting test conditions from the Run
Control screen is often used to make quick variations of existing test
procedures. Later on, you will make a new Procedure dataset that can
be applied automatically to future runs.
— 31 —
4. Making New Vehicles
In the previous chapter, you created a Quick Start project database and ran two simulations. In
this chapter, you will make datasets that describe variants of the baseline vehicle and run
simulations with those variants. In doing so, you will learn some things about the CarSim
database design and some of the tools available for navigating among datasets.
Create a Modified Vehicle

Continue from the previous section, viewing the Run Control screen with the dataset Baseline
(Figure 43).
Figure 43. Hover over a blue link to see it is active.

1. Links for datasets are shown in CarSim with hypertext labels with blue backgrounds.
a. Hover the mouse over the blue link for the vehicle and see that the text is
underlined, as done on many web pages.
b. Click on the underlined text to view the linked dataset in the CarSim window. After
clicking on the vehicle link, you should see the Vehicle: Assembly dataset in the
window (Figure 44). The vehicle used for the baseline example is named C-Class,
Hatchback 2012.
Note The Quick Start database initially contains this single vehicle description.
It is possible to make many runs involving this vehicle. It is also possible
to modify the vehicle properties. However, this Vehicle Assembly
dataset is already shared with two existing simulation runs, so if the
vehicle is modified and the existing simulations are re-run, then different
results will be obtained because the vehicle data have been changed.
— 32 —
Chapter 4 Making New Vehicles
Figure 44. The original baseline Vehicle Assembly dataset.
To avoid this potential problem, you will now make a completely new,
independent vehicle description that can be modified to create a variant.
The original vehicle description is still available to make new
simulations that might be needed for future comparisons with the original
baseline reference.
2. Select the File menu item New Dataset Plus All Linked Datasets (Figure 45). You will be
prompted to specify a category for the new datasets that are about to be created (Figure 46).
Figure 45. Duplicate a dataset plus all links.

Enter Modification #1 as shown, and then click the New datasets button. A pop-up
window will appear while CarSim is working.
— 33 —
Figure 46. Specify a Category for new datasets.

3. When the new dataset have been created, you will once again be viewing the original
baseline vehicle dataset. Click on the Datasets menu (Figure 47) to see that there is now
a category Modification #1 with one menu item named C-Class, Hatchback 2012 .
This is the duplicate you just created; select it to bring it into view (Figure 48).
Figure 47. Use the Datasets menu to go to the new vehicle dataset.
Figure 48. Duplicated Vehicle Assembly dataset.

4. The duplicated Vehicle Assembly screen has the same notes and blue links, but there are
changes in appearance:
a. The Category name shown in the title is now Modification #1 . (The original dataset
had the Category name CS C-Class).
b. The new dataset is unlocked .
— 34 —
c. If you right-click on any of the blue links, the tool tip indicates that the category of the
linked dataset is Modification #1 .
Click on the blue link for the sprung mass (Figure 48) to view the duplicated sprung
mass dataset (Figure 49). Confirm that it has the new Category name Modification #1 .
Figure 49. Duplicated Vehicle Sprung Mass dataset.

5. Right-click on one of the two data fields showing the height of the rear wheel centers above
the X axis of the sprung mass coordinate system to view information about the
parameter. Change the values for the wheel center heights for both rear wheels to 100. This
change means the wheels are lowered relative to the sprung mass. Or, from the point of view
of the wheels, the sprung mass will be lifted at the rear axle position.
Notice that the Undo button is now active . That’s because you’ve modified the new
sprung-mass dataset. Click the Undo button (or type the Windows shortcut: Ctrl+Z) and see
the changes revert. When there are no more changes to undo, the button is dimmed again.
Once you’ve clicked Undo, the Redo button becomes active . Click Redo to restore your
changes (or use the shortcut Ctrl+Y). After you’ve restored all changes by repeated clicking
of the Redo button, it will be dimmed again as shown in the figure.
6. Click the Back button to return to the Vehicle Assembly screen. This button is similar to
the Back button in a web browser. When you go to a dataset by clicking on a blue hyperlink
(e.g., to get from the Vehicle Assembly screen to the Vehicle Sprung Mass screen), you
can return to the previously viewed screen using the Back button.
Click the Back button until you return to the Run Control screen, viewing the Run Control
dataset named Baseline.
7. Click the Duplicate button (Figure 50) to copy this dataset. When prompted, enter a new
name: Modified Vehicle #1 and click the Duplicate button. Note that the Video and Plot
buttons are dimmed; this is because the simulation has not been made yet.
— 35 —
Figure 50. Run Control Screen for Modified Vehicle #1.

8. Click on the drop-down control adjacent to the blue link for the vehicle . CarSim shows a
menu of all of the datasets in the linked library (the Vehicle Assembly library). Choose the
vehicle from the Category Modification #1 .
9. Make a few cosmetic changes to identify this simulation run:
a. Change the run color to red to identify the modified vehicle in animations.
b. Edit the Notes text to describe what’s different about this run.
10. Click the Run Math Model button to run the simulation with the new vehicle.
11. Click the Video button to view the results (Figure 51). Right-click and drag horizontally to
see the side view of the vehicle, and confirm that the changes made to the wheel locations
relative to the sprung mass took effect. Close VS Visualizer.
Figure 51. Animation of the vehicle lifted at the rear.

12. Compare the motions of the modified vehicle to those of the original.
a. Check the box Overlay animations and plots with other runs (Figure 52).
b. Use the drop-down control to choose the run named Baseline .
— 36 —
Figure 52. Controls for overlaying simulation results from multiple runs.
c. Click the Video + Plot button to view the simulation results from the two tests. Raising
the sprung mass might be expected to result in higher roll angles during this maneuver.
Zoom the plot for roll angle to confirm this (Figure 53).
When finished, close VS Visualizer.
Figure 53. Effect of raising the sprung mass on vehicle roll during the double lane change.
13. Compare the text Echo files for the two runs.
a. If necessary, use the drop-down control (Figure 52) to select Echo file with initial
conditions.
b. Click the View button to view the Echo file generated for the lifted vehicle with the
ConTEXT text editor.
c. With the text editor showing the Echo file, find the CarSim window (it might be behind
the text editor window).
d. Click on the blue link for Baseline. You should now be viewing the Run Control
dataset for this run.
e. Select Echo file with initial conditions and click the adjacent the View button. The text
editor should show the Baseline Echo file, with a tab to access the other file (Figure 54).
— 37 —
Figure 54. Using the ConTEXT text editor to view Echo files.
f. Select the Tools menu item Compare. This brings up a dialog box (Figure 55). Use the
controls to set each file name to the two files that are open ( and ) and then click
the Compare button .
Figure 55. Setting ConTEXT to compare two files.
Note The names of the files associated with any CarSim dataset are
machine-generated using universal unique identifier (UUID)
hexadecimal numbers. When looking at these file names, you only
need to pay attention to the first few characters of the UUID. For
— 38 —
example, the two Echo files shown in Figure 54 and Figure 55 have
names that begin “Run_f6…” and “Run_5e…”.
When you click the Compare button, ConTEXT displays a comparison window with
differences in the files highlighted in yellow (Figure 56).
Figure 56. Comparison of two Echo files.

g. Use the Next and Previous arrow buttons to jump to the differences in the files. You
should see that only a few lines differ, with the ones affecting the vehicle dynamics
being the heights of the rear wheel centers that were changed from 325 mm to 100 mm.
h. Click the Next arrow button a few more times. You should also see differences in a
few calculated properties (the descriptions include the notation CALC) that depend on
height, such as the CG height for the entire vehicle, and the moments of inertia for the
entire vehicle. These properties are calculated before the simulation starts, and are made
to provide metrics that help confirm that the basic vehicle properties are as expected.
The static loads and heights are approximate and do not exactly match the dynamic
state, event at T = 0.
Close the ConTEXT (text editor) windows when you are through.
Review You have now made three runs in the new Quick Start database: the
original baseline, a run with the original vehicle but at a higher test
speed of 150 km/h, and a modified vehicle, running at the original 120
km/h.
You viewed the differences in vehicle behavior with the aid of
animation and by comparing plots of vehicle response variables such
as roll angle.
— 39 —
You used the ConTEXT text editor to compare the full datasets
associated with the simulations and confirmed that only two input
parameters were different. You might also have seen differences in
calculated properties and initial conditions that were affected by those
two parameters.
Navigate the CarSim Database

You have seen that the full description of a simulated test combines datasets for a vehicle,
controls, road conditions, etc. (Figure 57). The vehicle dataset in turn combines data from parts
such as the sprung mass, tires, powertrain, etc.
Figure 57. Simulation runs are assembled from Datasets selected from Libraries.
Building a vehicle is done in the software by linking to subsystems and parts from the database.
Conceptually, this is similar to building a physical vehicle from existing systems and parts such
as tires, powertrain, suspensions, etc. Just as the same type of tire might be used on all four
wheels of a physical vehicle, the same tire dataset can be use for all four wheel positions of the
simulated vehicle.
In the previous section, you navigated between three screens and compared the text files
generated for the simulation run named Baseline and the one named Modified Vehicle #1. In this
section, you will learn about more navigation tools to quickly view any vehicle components of
interest that are used in a simulated test.
1. Use the Datasets menu to navigate to the Modified Vehicle #1 dataset (Figure 58).
— 40 —
Figure 58. CarSim navigation buttons.

So far, you have navigated by using the Datasets menu , by clicking on blue data links
, and by using the Back button . CarSim has other tools for navigating.
2. The five buttons at the far left of the button bar all involve navigation. Right-click on each to
see the tool tip.
a. The Forward button undoes the most recent Back action. To test this, click Back
and then click Forward to return to the view shown in Figure 58.
b. Click Previous to change datasets in the Run Control library, and then click Next
to return.
c. Click on the vehicle blue data link to view data in a different library (Vehicle:
Assembly), and then click Home to return to the Run Control library.
3. The Go To menu (Figure 59) has commands that duplicate the functions of the Back,
Forward, Previous, and Next buttons. Most commands have keyboard shortcuts for the
commands involving the PgUp and PgDown keys that you can use to quickly view recent
datasets. The menu also has a submenu showing the recently viewed datasets . For
example, a vehicle sprung mass dataset should be on the menu; select it. After confirming
that the view has changed, return by clicking the Home button .
Figure 59. The Go To Menu contains navigation controls.

4. The Libraries menu lists all libraries in CarSim (over 200). If you select one, it goes to that
library and shows the most recently viewed dataset. The first one is Home: CarSim Run
Control, also selectable with a keyword shortcut of Ctrl+H.
5. The lower part of the sidebar contains a linked data viewer that typically shows the most
recently viewed dataset from the Home: CarSim Run Control library and all of the data
links that are used for that dataset (Figure 60). The area used by the viewer is adjustable.
— 41 —
Figure 60. The CarSim Run Control screen with the Linked Data sidebar.
a. Adjust the split between the notes and the link viewer with the horizontal double line
(click and drag).
b. Adjust the width of the sidebar with the vertical double line between the sidebar and
dataset part of the window .
The figure uses red marks to show the connection between the CarSim Run Control dataset
name and the first item in the viewer . Blue marks show the connection between the
vehicle link and the name of the dataset in the viewer .
The dataset that is currently in view is shown in bold in the link viewer. In this case, it is
CarSim Run Control: Modified Vehicle #1 .
6. Click on the blue link button for the vehicle assembly to go to that dataset (Figure 61).
Notice that the Linked Data display now has the second line highlighted in bold ,
indicating that the Vehicle Assembly screen is in view .
Datasets that have links to other datasets have a control to expand (+) or collapse (-) the
view. Click on the (+) control for the Vehicle Assembly to view all of the links used for
this dataset.
If there is not enough room to read a full dataset name in the viewer, hover the mouse over
the name and the full name will pop up, as shown in Figure 61 for the sprung mass link
that you previously visited by using the blue link .
7. Notice that the map in the sidebar shows four tire dataset links, as would be expected for a
four-wheeled vehicle ( and , Figure 61). However, the Vehicle Assembly screen has
only a single link to a tire dataset . The tire dataset is used four times in different
locations, as specified with the drop-down control .
The database design in CarSim lets you build the virtual vehicle with “parts” represented by
datasets. The same dataset can be used repeatedly in different contexts. Double-click on the
blue link for the tire to view the tire dataset (Figure 62).
— 42 —
Figure 61. The Vehicle Assembly screen.
Figure 62. The tire dataset is used four times.

8. Notice that the linked dataset viewer shows all four references to this tire dataset in bold
( and ), confirming that it is used four times in the simulation.
— 43 —
The linked dataset viewer not only shows information, but also provides quick access to any
visible dataset. Double click on the name of a dataset to bring it into view. For example,
double-click on the CarSim Run Control item to bring it into view again.
Review You have seen the major tools in CarSim for navigating through the
database. The Datasets menu lists all of the datasets in the current
library; the Libraries menu lists all of libraries in CarSim; the Go To
menu has commands allowing you to browse to different libraries or
datasets; buttons in the upper-left part of the window offer one-click
alternatives to the menus.
The linked dataset viewer in the bottom part of the sidebar shows a
map of all datasets connected to a Run Control dataset; double-click on
any one of them to quickly view the dataset of interest.
Create a Vehicle with Shared Datasets

At the start of this chapter, you duplicated all datasets that contributed to the description of the
baseline vehicle. You then modified two parameters in the sprung mass dataset. In this section,
you will make a third vehicle with two more modified parameters. Because only minor changes
will be made, you will use a much more efficient method to create the new vehicle description.
You should now be viewing the CarSim Run Control dataset named Modified Vehicle #1.
1. Click the Duplicate button and set the name of the new dataset to Modified Vehicle
#2. (This name should be generated automatically, given that the name of the dataset being
duplicated was Modified Vehicle #1.)
2. Click on the drop-down control adjacent to the blue link for the vehicle (Figure 63). This
time, choose the first item on the menu: [Copy and Link Dataset] .
Figure 63. Run Control dataset for Modified Vehicle #2.

You will be prompted to give a name for the new dataset (Figure 64). Change the Category
name to Modification #2 ), define the dataset title as Modified Vehicle #2
, and click the button Copy and Link .
— 44 —
Figure 64. Copy and Link to make a new Vehicle: Assembly dataset.
3. Click the blue link for the new vehicle dataset (Figure 63) that you just created (Figure
64) to bring the Vehicle: Assembly screen into view (Figure 65).
Figure 65. Copy and Link to make a new Vehicle Sprung Mass dataset.
4. Click on the drop-down control adjacent to the blue link for the vehicle (Rigid) sprung mass
and choose the first item on the menu: [Copy and Link Dataset]. When prompted, set
the Category to Modification #2 and the title to Modified Sprung Mass #2,
and click the Copy and Link button to finish. You should see the name of the linked sprung
mass dataset change to match the name you entered: Modified Sprung Mass #2.
5. Click the blue link for the sprung mass dataset to bring it into view (Figure 66).
6. Edit the wheel center heights for the front wheels to 100 to match the rear wheels .
7. The linked dataset viewer shows the datasets referenced for the Run Control dataset named
Modified Vehicle #2 . It shows that the Vehicle Assembly dataset associated with this
run is also named Modified Vehicle #2 . Click the ‘+’ button preceding the vehicle
dataset to expand the view to show all datasets linked to the Vehicle Assembly screen. The
Sprung Mass dataset currently in view should appear in bold . (If not, click the viewer
Refresh button .)
In this section of the Quick Start Guide, you have created three new datasets: the new run
, the new vehicle assembly , and the new sprung mass . All other properties of the
vehicle are represented with the same datasets that are shared with the modified duplicate
vehicle, Modified Vehicle #1, that was created in the previous section.
Go to the Run Control dataset by double-clicking its name in the dataset viewer .
— 45 —
Figure 66. Edit Modified Sprung Mass #2.

8. Run the simulation by clicking the Run Math Model button.
9. Change the run color to green and then click the Video button to compare the modified
vehicle to the baseline (Figure 67). VS Visualizer should show that the green vehicle is lifted
at both axles. Close VS Visualizer when you are done.
Figure 67. View of vehicle lifted at both axles (green) overlaid with the baseline (blue).
— 46 —
10. Update the notes for this run to describe the change made to the vehicle (Figure 68).
Figure 68. Update the notes for the second modification.
Review You have created a second vehicle variant named Modified Vehicle #2.
In this case, you only created three new datasets: (1) a new Run
Control dataset with a link to a new Vehicle Assembly dataset; (2) the
new Vehicle Assembly dataset with a link to a new Vehicle Sprung
Mass dataset, and (3) the new Vehicle Sprung Mass dataset with all
four wheel centers set to a height of 100 mm.
You created the new Vehicle Assembly and Vehicle Sprung Mass
datasets by using the Copy and Link command that is available with
all blue links.
— 47 —
5. Managing Data
CarSim keeps vehicle and simulation data organized into libraries of dataset files. In the previous
chapters, you have worked mainly in a small database that you created following the instructions
in this guide. You created new datasets by copying existing ones and making small modifications.
In this chapter, you will look at some more kinds of data in CarSim. You will start by creating a
new dataset from scratch. You will see how to copy datasets from one database to another,
working with more examples from the database installed with CarSim. You will then explore the
CarSim database to see the types of vehicles and test maneuvers that are available as examples.
Make a New Plot Dataset

So far, you have looked at nine plots that were already associated with the double lane change
procedure. The CarSim model calculates hundreds or even thousands of variables that can be
plotted. (For the example runs you made in the previous chapter, the simulations produced time
histories for about 600 variables.) In this section, you will see how to plot any of them. For the
example, we will use the suspension jounce at all four wheels.
Start with the Modified Vehicle #2 dataset from the Run Control screen (Figure 69).
Figure 69. Choose Link to New Dataset for a plot.
Note The CarSim Math Models can produce hundreds or even thousands of
output variables for each simulation. It is possible to make new runs with
only subsets of the available variables, saving both file space and time
during post-processing. For the purpose of this tutorial, the checkbox
— 48 —
Chapter 5 Managing Data
Write all outputs is checked to ensure that all output variables are
available for plotting.
1. Use the drop-down control to show more plots (Figure 69) and choose 1. This will cause
CarSim to display a potential blue link to a plot description . Until this is linked to a
dataset, it is shown gray with a dimmed title: {No dataset selected}.
2. Check the box Only these plots .
3. Click on the drop-down control adjacent to the plot link . Choose the second item on the
menu: [Link to New Dataset]. You will be prompted to give a name for the new dataset
(Figure 70). For now, leave the default category and title alone (accept the default names)
and click the button Create . The link is now blue and shows the title for the newly
created dataset (Figure 71).
Figure 70. Create and Link to a new plot dataset.
Figure 71. Blue link for new empty plot dataset.

3. Click the blue link for the new plot dataset to bring it into view (Figure 72). As can be
seen in the figure, the field for specifying variables to plot is empty .
4. Click on the drop-down control adjacent to the unused data link for an example run .A
menu is shown that includes all of the simulation runs in this database (there should now
be four). Choose any one, e.g., Baseline.
After the run is selected (Figure 73), a blue link appears for the selected run and
information is shown below to help browse for variables names.
— 49 —
Figure 72. Dataset for new plot (initially empty).
Figure 73. Selecting variables to plot from a browser.

When you made the link to the existing run, CarSim sent all of the data used to set up the
run to the VS Solver, which quickly generated a file with the names of all variables that
could possibly be written to the output file for plotting and animation. The name of the file
that was just generated is shown in the adjacent yellow field (Figure 73), and the
contents of the file are used to support point-and-click selection of variable pairs (X and Y)
for plotting.
Drop-down controls ( and ) are available to show subsets of the variables; other drop-
down controls are used to specify whether the variables are identified by short names or long
names ( and ). Given these specifications, a list of variables is shown for plotting on
the Y axis and another list of variables to select for plotting on the X axis . Double-
click in either selection field ( or ) and the currently selected variable names are
written into the yellow field that specifies the data channels to be plotted.
— 50 —
a. For the X axis, the default variable is Time, which is the first one listed . Make sure
it is selected.
b. For the Y axis, choose Select by type of component and then select the type
Suspensions . Choose the option to Show short names .
c. Search for the jounce variables: Jnc_L1, Jnc_L2, Jnc_R1, and Jnc_R2 . For more
information, right click and hold while one of these is selected .
d. These are the variables we want to plot. Double click on each one; they should then
appear in the yellow field listing variables to plot (Figure 73).
5. Now that we have chosen variables to plot, we can use a better name for this dataset than the
default. Use the CarSim menu item Edit > Change Title or Category of This Dataset (or
press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+T) to change the title. This brings up two yellow fields and
a drop-down at the top of the screen to set the dataset title and category (Figure 74). Set the
title to Suspension Jounce and then click the Set button . Confirm that the title
of the Plot Setup dataset has the name you just specified.
Figure 74. Change the title of the new plot dataset.

6. Click the Back button or Home button to return to the CarSim Run Control screen, where
you should be viewing the dataset named Modified Vehicle #2 (Figure 75).
Figure 75. The link to the Plot Setup screen shows the new title.
Note It would have been more efficient to specify the title “Suspension
Jounce” when the new Plot dataset was created in step 3. The extra step
of renaming the dataset was included here to show how easy it is to
change the names of existing datasets.
— 51 —
7. Click the Video + Plot button. Because the Run Control screen had been set up to show
overlay plots and animations, you should see jounce variables from the original vehicle and
the variant called Modified Vehicle #2 (Figure 76). Two things these plots show are:
Figure 76. Newly defined plot for suspension jounce at each wheel.
a. The jounce variables from the modified vehicle cover a wider range. This is to be
expected because the modified vehicle sprung mass was lifted, and as a result,
experiences a larger range of motion in roll.
b. The jounce variables start at zero for all wheels for both vehicles. The heights of the
wheel centers shown on the sprung mass screen define the relationships between the
wheel-center height and the sprung mass in the design configuration, which is usually
where jounce is defined as zero. Even though the variant (Modified Vehicle #2) is
lifted, the assumption is that this is the design configuration, so the initial jounce is
zero.
After viewing, close VS Visualizer.
Review You created a new Plot Setup dataset. CarSim scanned an existing
output file to show all of the variables available for plotting, and you
picked four of them. Although CarSim comes with over 200 plot
datasets, you will inevitably want to create new plots for your own
project applications using the same steps you have taken here. You
also changed the name of a plot dataset and saw that the link to it on
the Run Control screen was automatically updated to show the new
name.
— 52 —
Add a Plot to a Procedure Dataset

In the previous section, you created a new plot for one of the simulation examples in your
database. In this section you will modify the procedure so your new plot will be used for all runs
made with the example double lane change procedure.
Start from the Run Control screen, viewing the Modified Vehicle #2 dataset (Figure 77).
Figure 77. Change the number of “More plots” to zero.

1. Change the More plots control back to zero .
2. Click on the blue link for the Procedure to view the Procedure dataset for the double
lane change (Figure 78).
Figure 78. Add a plot definition to the dataset for the double lane change procedure.
This screen has driver controls, simulation start and stop conditions, road and potentially
other environmental settings, as well as plot definitions associated with the procedure.
Notice that the speed of 120 km/h used in the baseline procedure is set here .
— 53 —
3. Unlock the dataset, then click the drop-down control adjacent to an unused data link for a
plot to view a menu of available plot datasets. Choose the dataset you created:
Suspension Jounce . The link should be blue after you make this selection.
4. Return to the Home screen.
5. Navigate from the run named Modified Vehicle #2 to the run named Baseline (use the
Datasets menu).
6. Click the Plot button. You should see one more plot than has been available on previous
occasions where you viewed plots for this run (Figure 79). View the Suspension Jounce plot
to confirm that it shows the four jounce variables. After viewing, close VS Visualizer.
Figure 79. Confirm that the new Suspension Jounce plot is now associated with this procedure.
Copy Data from One Database to Another

Your Quick Start database started with nine plot datasets and you added one more. The database
installed with CarSim has hundreds of plot datasets. You don’t have to create new datasets if they
already exist in the larger database — you can copy them.
1. Show the CarSim File menu (Figure 80). Near the bottom is a submenu named Recent
Databases. It will show your Quick Start database dimmed, followed by any other databases
that have been used recently with the current version of CarSim. Select the database that was
installed with CarSim (e.g., CarSim_Data).
— 54 —
Figure 80. Select a recent database.
Note The default name of the database installed with CarSim is

CarSim[version]_Data, where [version] is the version number (e.g.,
90). Of course, the default name and location are just suggestions shown
when running the installer; the actual name of the example database is
whatever you or the person installing the software specified at the time.
2. CarSim will show a dialog box with options to open a new window for the second database,
or to use the same window. Click the Additional Window button.
Figure 81. Option to open a new database window.

3. You should now have two CarSim windows open (Figure 82). They can be distinguished by
the window titles, which always begin with the database name.
— 55 —
Figure 82. Two CarSim windows for two different databases.

The database names also appear in CarSim icons in the Window taskbar (at the bottom of
the screen) or when using Windows Alt+Tab to switch between tasks (Figure 83).
Figure 83. CarSim icons in the task bar or task switcher specify the associated database names.
4. For now, minimize the CarSim window for your Quick Start database (Figure 84).
Figure 84. Minimize the CarSim window for your Quick Start database.
5. Click the Lib Tool button in the remaining CarSim window (this should be the window for
the main database that was installed with CarSim, Figure 85).
Figure 85. Click the Lib Tool button.

6. This brings up the Library Tool window (Figure 86). Press the Library selector control to
browse to the Plot Setup library. There are too many libraries in CarSim to show in a simple
drop-down list, so a scrollable list is shown (Figure 87). Scroll as needed and select the
library named Plot Setup , then click the OK button .
— 56 —
Figure 86. The Library Tool window (initial appearance).
Figure 87. Select the Plot Setup library.

7. The Library Tool window is now set up to show datasets from the Plot Setup library
(Figure 88). Categories of Plot Setup datasets are shown . Initially, datasets in one of the
categories are listed in the Datasets box and the Selected Datasets box is empty.
a. Click the Add whole library button . This moves all datasets in the currently
selected library to the Selected Datasets field , as shown in Figure 88.
b. Click the button Export to Consolidated Parsfile . CarSim will prompt you to
choose a location for the file and to give it a name (Figure 89). Be sure that the location
you choose is somewhere on your computer where you have read and write access.
CarSim will provide a default name that you can use or change as you see fit. Click
the Save button to export the data .
CarSim will show a progress window for a few seconds and then a Result window
when the export is complete.
c. Click the Close button for the Library Tool window (Figure 88).
— 57 —
Figure 88. The Library Tool window, showing datasets from the Plot Setup library.
Figure 89. Specify the name and location for the exported CPAR file.
— 58 —
8. Minimize the CarSim window for the full database (e.g., CarSim_Data).
9. Use the Windows task bar or type Alt+Tab as needed to bring the CarSim window into view
that is associated with your Quick Start database (see Figure 83, page 56).
10. Select the File menu item Import Parsfile (Any Export Type) (see Figure 80, page 55).
CarSim will prompt you to specify a file with a file browser; select the CPAR file you
created in step 7.
Next, CarSim will prompt you to choose options for datasets that might be duplicated.
Figure 90 shows the default settings; go with the options Do not overwrite existing local
data , Match by UUID , and Preview Results , and then click the OK button .
Figure 90. Specify Do not overwrite and Preview Results.

With these settings, CarSim scans the CPAR file you selected and shows a report in tabular
form (Figure 91).
Figure 91. Preview of files, showing which will be imported and which will be skipped.
The first column in the table gives the Import Action: Skip or Import. In this example, two
datasets will be skipped ( and ) because they are already in the database; they have the
same names and same UUID as datasets already present. All others will be imported.
— 59 —
Click the OK button to proceed. CarSim will spend a few seconds to import the plot
datasets and integrate them into the database, and then show a summary of the actions that
were taken (Figure 92).
Figure 92. Summary shown when import has completed.

11. Go to the Procedures dataset (click on the blue link from the Run Control screen).
12. Click the drop-down control adjacent to an unused plot link (Figure 93) to see all of the
plot datasets that have been imported. Choose one (e.g., Spring Force , from the
Category submenu Suspension Forces and Moments ).
Figure 93. Choose from among the many plot datasets that were imported.
13. Return to the Home screen and click the Plot button to view the new plots. There should be
a plot showing time histories of the four spring forces (or variables specified by whatever
plot setups you added in step 12).
— 60 —
Close VS Visualizer when you are done.
Review You now have two CarSim windows available, each showing a
separate database. You have seen how to transfer data from one to the
other.
Look at a Configurable Function

Many of the CarSim Math Model equations involve algebraic relationships used to calculate a
variable from values of one or two other variables in the model. These relationships are
represented with configurable functions that can be set at runtime to use various calculation
methods such as table lookup, linear coefficients, or constants. About half of the calculations
performed in a simulation run involve these configurable functions.
1. Go to the Procedures dataset (Figure 94).
Figure 94. The Procedure screen has a link to a Steering: Driver path follower dataset.
2. Click on the blue link for a Steering: Driver path follower dataset named Double Lane
Change (Quick Start) . This will bring the path follower dataset into view (Figure 95).
This screen shows a configurable function in which a lateral offset is calculated as a function
of station (longitudinal distance along a path). This information is given in several places:
axis labels for a graphic plot ; the caption above the table of numbers ; and text under
the plot that gives information about identifying data for the function in Echo files .
— 61 —
Figure 95. The target path for the driver model is defined by a table of numbers.
The dataset shown in the figure specifies that the dependent variable (Lateral offset) is
calculated from a table of numbers using linear interpolation with flat-line extrapolation
. A plot shows the relationship between the two variables .
3. Unlock the dataset. Click the drop-down control that specifies the function type to see
the available function types. Change the function type to Constant to see how the screen
changes. Repeat for each of the other types.
When you are through viewing the function type options, click the Undo button
repeatedly until it is dimmed, indicating that the dataset has been restored to its original
state. Re-lock the dataset.
4. Use the Libraries menu to go to the Powertrain: Engine library. This name is part of the
submenu Powertrain. The Powertrain: Engine screen (Figure 96) shows a configurable
function in which an output (engine torque) is calculated from two known variables (engine
speed and throttle position). In this case, the calculation method is specified as 2D linear
interpolation and extrapolation . Multiple plots are shown and the table includes
multiple columns, each associated with a different throttle position . To help adjust the
view for the table, a vertical splitter control can be moved horizontally.
5. Click the View 3D Map button at the bottom of the screen for a 3D view of the data
(Figure 97). Use the left mouse button to rotate the view; use Ctrl plus the mouse to zoom.
Exit the viewer (Alt+F4 or close the window) when you are done.
— 62 —
Figure 96. Engine torque is calculated from two variables.
Figure 97. 3D view of engine torque map.
Review Many of the datasets in CarSim involve configurable functions that

define how one variable is calculated from one or two other variables
in the CarSim Math Model. As you gain experience with CarSim,
please look in the VS Browser (GUI and Database) manual (in the
Reference Manuals part of the Help menu) for information about these
functions and the controls used to configure them.
— 63 —
View a Vehicle with Payloads

Up to this point, we have only considered data related to an unloaded vehicle. Before concluding
this tutorial, we will learn how payloads and trailers can be added to the vehicle.
1. Minimize the CarSim window for your Quick Start database.
2. Use the Windows task bar or type Alt+Tab as needed to bring the CarSim window into view
that is associated with your full CarSim database.
3. Use the Libraries menu (Figure 98) to go to the Vehicle with Loads, Sensors, Trailer, etc
screen.
Figure 98. Go to the Vehicle: Loaded Condition screen.

4. With the Vehicle with Loads screen in view, use the Datasets menu to go to the category
Utility Truck and dataset Utility Truck w/Barrels (Figure 99).
The Vehicle with Loads screen is used to combine motor vehicles with trailers, payloads,
sensor packages, and other datasets that you might use to define a vehicle condition. For
example, Figure 99 shows a utility truck with three payloads . The screen has links for
miscellaneous datasets that can also be associated with the vehicle .
— 64 —
Figure 99. Vehicle: Loaded Condition dataset.

This screen is also used for combination vehicles: check the Trailer box and more links
appear for adding a trailer dataset and associated payloads. (Note that an optional trailer
license is required to run a CarSim Math Model for vehicles that include trailers.)
5. You can view a simulation run involving this vehicle combination. To do this, use the Tools
menu and choose the option Find All References to This Dataset (Figure 100). CarSim
will search the current database, and if any other datasets link to the current one, they are
listed in a pop-up window named Dataset References (Figure 101). Double-click on the
name of a dataset to view it.
Figure 100. Tools menu command to find all references to a dataset.

After CarSim brings the Run Control screen into view, click the Close button on the
Dataset References window.
— 65 —
Figure 101. References to the Vehicle with Payloads dataset.
Note The Dataset References window remains visible until you manually
close it. It is sometimes convenient to keep the window in view when
multiple datasets are displayed; this allows quick access to any of them.
6. Click the Video button to view the simulation results involving this vehicle. Close VS
Visualizer when you are done.
Browse the Installed Database

You began this tour of CarSim in Chapter 2 by learning to use VS Visualizer to view results for
the double lane change in the database installed with CarSim. Now that you have more
experience using the visualization tools and the navigation tools, you should look through the
CarSim database to learn about the types of simulated testing that can be done.
1. If it is not in view, go to the CarSim Run Control screen by clicking the Home button or
typing Ctrl+H.
2. Browse through the simulation runs using the Datasets menu and/or the buttons and PgUp
and PgDown keys. Use the Video and Plot buttons to view existing results for simulation
conditions that you find interesting.
3. Alternatively, you can browse through the vehicle libraries to find vehicles of interest and
then use the Tools menu command Find All References to This Dataset to locate runs
involving that vehicle, just as you did in the previous section. You might also browse
through the Procedures library to find test scenarios of interest and then use the Tools menu
to locate runs involving the test of interest.
Review You have almost completed the hands-on part of this guide for using
the software. The concluding chapter has just a little more, this time
involving more documentation that is included in CarSim.
— 66 —
6. Learning More About CarSim
Now that you have finished the hands-on introduction, you are in a better position to explore
more CarSim features.
CarSim Help System

During the tutorial in Chapter 2, you right-clicked buttons for tool tips. You also used the Help
button to see information about the currently displayed data screen.
You will see that much more information is available via the Help menu. It provides reference
information for all menus, controls, and screens (Figure 102). There are also technical memos
that show by example some of the more advanced features in CarSim.
Figure 102. Information available from the Help menu and View button.
All of the documentation has been indexed to provide a rapid search capability. The second item
on the Help menu is Search Help. Select this item to bring up a search window (Figure 103)
from your installed PDF browser (typically Adobe Reader). In the figure, the window confirms
that the index file was set automatically to CarSim_Help.pdx . Enter a word or phrase as
search criteria (e.g., tire models ). Click the Search button to bring up all occurrences
— 67 —
Chapter 6 Learning More About CarSim
of the phrase (Figure 104), and click on any of the results to view that occurrence in your PDF
reader.
Figure 103. The Search window for PDF files (access with the Help menu item Search Help).
Figure 104. Results of search for a phrase in the CarSim documentation.

Close the PDF viewer when you are done.
— 68 —
Math Model Documentation

On the CarSim Run Control screen, you used the View button (Figure 105) in the lower-
right corner to see the Echo files that are produced by the VS Solver programs whenever a run is
made. This control provides access to a number of other machine-generated documents that
describe technical details about the CarSim Math Models.
Figure 105. View button in the lower-right corner of the CarSim Run Control screen.
1. Use the drop-down list to select the item Outputs from math model (text) , then
click View to see the text file in the editor (Figure 106). The variables are listed in
alphabetical order, based on the unique short names used to identify each variable.
2. Use the search feature in the text editor to search for “Jnc_”. (Use the Edit menu item Find
or type Ctrl-F to bring up the search dialog box.) You should find the variables that you
located in the CarSim Plot Setup screen to create a new custom plot (Chapter 5).
Close the text editor when you’re done.
3. If you have Excel or another spreadsheet program on your computer, use the drop-down list
next to the View button (Figure 105) to select the item Outputs from math model
(Excel), then click View . The same information shown before in a text file is now shown
in a spreadsheet. The original sequence is in alphabetical order, as with the text version.
However, the spreadsheet includes other labels such as component, units, and type, and can
be sorted using any of those alternate labels.
For example, Figure 107 shows the names of the output variables sorted by component. The
figure shows how all variables related to suspension are grouped together, making it easier
to find the names of all suspension-related variables available for plotting.
Close the spreadsheet when you are done.
— 69 —
Figure 106. Text file listing all output variables available from a CarSim Math Model.
Figure 107. Spreadsheet showing output variables available from a CarSim Math Model.
— 70 —
4. Use the drop-down list (Figure 105) to select the item State variables in the math
model , and then click View . This brings up a description of the CarSim Math Model,
listing all state variables.
When you are through viewing the text files, close the text editor.
The CarSim Web Site

If you have Internet access, try the web link near the bottom of the Help menu: Check Web Site
for Updates. If you have not visited this part of the CarSim site before, you will be prompted for
a password (Figure 108).
Figure 108. Login to user section of web site.

CarSim will automatically enter the key ID, so you just have to enter your email address.
Note Your email is used on the web site only as a password: it is not saved or
recorded.
It will only work if it is listed in the Mechanical Simulation license
database with your other license information. If it doesn’t work, contact
Mechanical Simulation by sending an email to
licensecontrol@carsim.com with your key ID and contact information.
— 71 —
This email address is initially set for the person who purchased the
software.
Once logged in, you will see a user section with backup copies of the software, updates, bug
reports, fixes, and other resources that are added as part of normal maintenance.
What to Read Next

Now that you have learned the basics of using CarSim, there are a few more documents that we
recommend reading as soon as you have time:
1. The VS Browser (GUI and Database) manual (in the Reference Manuals submenu of
the Help menu) gives reference information for the CarSim menus, GUI controls, and the
database.
Note The VehicleSim (VS) simulation architecture is used in the products

BikeSim, CarSim, SuspensionSim, and TruckSim. The products share
some of the documentation, and in these cases, the documents use the
more generic VS name.
2. If you will be working with Simulink, you should read the tech memo Example: Running
with Simulink.
3. The VS Solver Programs manual (in the Reference Manuals submenu of the Help
menu) gives reference information about the solver programs such as input files, output
files, and basic format rules.
4. Details about the vehicle model are covered in Help documents linked to the relevant data
screens. Depending on your interest and expertise, you can read the documentation
concerning the parts of the vehicle that are of greatest interest to you.
Another option for quickly learning about CarSim and its more advanced features is to take a
training course from Mechanical Simulation. This is highly recommended if you are new to
CarSim. The classes expand upon the material learned in this manual by introducing new
examples and teaching many tips for using the software. Please see www.carsim.com for
details. For example, see www.carsim.com/events/ for upcoming webcasts, or subscribe
to our free newsletter at www.carsim.com/forms/newsletter.php.
— 72 —
<This page is intentionally blank>
— 73 —
Mechanical Simulation
755 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor MI, 48108, USA
Phone: 734 668-2930 • Fax: 734 668-2877 • Email: info@carsim.com
carsim.com

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CarSim

Quick Start Guide

What You Will Learn

Before You Start

Figure 1: Open the database from the CarSim installation.

Figure 2. Window with license settings.

Figure 3. The CarSim Run Control (Home) screen.

Go to the CarSim Quick Start Dataset

Figure 4. The View menu.

Note In CarSim documentation, the word dataset refers to the contents of a

Figure 7. Documentation about the current screen.

The CarSim Run Control (Home) Window Layout

Figure 8. Layout of the CarSim Run Control screen.

View a Simulated Video

Figure 9. A VS Visualizer window.

Figure 11. Mouse controls for the VS Visualizer video window.

Figure 12. Time controls for VS Visualizer.

c. Restore the speed to 1x (real time) . The direction (forward/reverse) is unaffected.

Figure 13. A view showing wireframes.

View Video + Plots

Figure 15. View one of the plots.

View Model Information

Figure 26. Echo file generated for a simulation run.

Make a New Database

Note The CPAR file is in a folder [CarSim_Prog_Folder]\Resources\

Figure 28. Locate the CarSim Quick Start CPAR file.

Figure 29. Create an empty folder for the new database.

Figure 30. Window showing license settings.

Figure 32. Run Control screen once unlocked.

Run with a Different Vehicle Speed

Figure 35. Setting the name of a new dataset.

Figure 37. Overlay a new run with the Baseline run.

Figure 39. Option to set a run color.

Figure 40. Color selector palette.

Figure 41. Animation with overlay of two runs.

Create a Modified Vehicle

Figure 43. Hover over a blue link to see it is active.

Figure 44. The original baseline Vehicle Assembly dataset.

Figure 45. Duplicate a dataset plus all links.

Figure 46. Specify a Category for new datasets.

Figure 48. Duplicated Vehicle Assembly dataset.

Figure 49. Duplicated Vehicle Sprung Mass dataset.

Figure 50. Run Control Screen for Modified Vehicle #1.

Figure 51. Animation of the vehicle lifted at the rear.

Figure 55. Setting ConTEXT to compare two files.

Figure 56. Comparison of two Echo files.

Navigate the CarSim Database

Figure 58. CarSim navigation buttons.

Figure 59. The Go To Menu contains navigation controls.

Figure 61. The Vehicle Assembly screen.

Figure 62. The tire dataset is used four times.

Create a Vehicle with Shared Datasets

Figure 63. Run Control dataset for Modified Vehicle #2.

Figure 66. Edit Modified Sprung Mass #2.

Figure 68. Update the notes for the second modification.

Make a New Plot Dataset

Figure 69. Choose Link to New Dataset for a plot.

Figure 70. Create and Link to a new plot dataset.

Figure 71. Blue link for new empty plot dataset.

Figure 72. Dataset for new plot (initially empty).

Figure 73. Selecting variables to plot from a browser.

Figure 74. Change the title of the new plot dataset.

Add a Plot to a Procedure Dataset