Reactor Problem

[dande]

I’m trying to simulate a car crash at a road intersection. I’ve set up reactor with my two cars. When I animate it they hit each other but then they spin off down the street rolling and flying through the air. A bit too dramatic for what I’m trying to demonstrate.

What I really would like is for the car speeding down the street to just push the other car out of the way, then slow down to a stop. But I don’t seem to be able to control the movements of the car after the collision. I’ve tried playing with their masses, Friction and velocity but it doesn’t seem to change the reaction after the collision.

 

Does anybody have any idea’s.

[SandmanNinja]

Do you clear the simulation after altering the values?

 

It'll look the same if you don't re-calc the reactor effects.

[dande]

I have a saved copy of the file prior to using reactor so I reopen that file.

 

This is my first attempt at using reactor, I don't seem to be able to control the result. I would like my 2 cars to stay on the ground. I thought if I give them a low mass this might work but they both spin off into the air. In real life they wouldn't react that way.

 

I would like the stationry car to go into a spin when it's hit by the other car, then the other car to come to a stop. Maybe reactor isn't the right tool for this and maybe I should just use normal animation tecniques.

 

I find it hard to believe that you can't control the result of the collision and that it always provides a spectacular hollywood style crash.

[RobNJ73]

This is my first attempt at using reactor, I don't seem to be able to control the result. I would like my 2 cars to stay on the ground. I thought if I give them a low mass this might work but they both spin off into the air. In real life they wouldn't react that way.

 

Try increasing their masses to something more physically accurate (assuming the rest of your scene is built on a similar scale), and I think you'll find the cars won't want to fly away uncontrollably.

 

I would like the stationry car to go into a spin when it's hit by the other car, then the other car to come to a stop. Maybe reactor isn't the right tool for this and maybe I should just use normal animation tecniques.

 

I find it hard to believe that you can't control the result of the collision and that it always provides a spectacular hollywood style crash.

 

It's not that reactor isn't the right tool... you just have to understand that it's going to take some trial and error on your part to get the simulation to behave in the very specific way that you want it to. If you want an exact result, then you have to make sure that everything is set up just right leading up to the simulation. Just takes some patience.

Edited September 13, 2008 by RobNJ73
Spelling monster strikes again

[dande]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I finally think I'm getting somewhere. I lowered the Z gravity and the cars are acting more like I would expect them to.

 

As you said if I use the correct masses of the cars I will probably get a better result. Do you know what units the Mass is set in. I'm have my Max units set to mm.

 

It's a fantastic tool if I can get my head around it.

 

I think the problem is there is very little information around about it.

[RobNJ73]

I believe the mass units default to kg.

[dande]

My cars are now falling through the ground after impact. Any idea's how to stop this.

 

How can I create damage to the cars on impact ?

[RobNJ73]

My cars are now falling through the ground after impact. Any idea's how to stop this.

 

Not sure... it really depends on what's causing it... is the ground set to be "unyieding"?

 

How can I create damage to the cars on impact ?

 

My first thought would be to use Morph Targets.

[dande]

Thanks for your help.I really appriciate it.

[RobNJ73]

Happy to... keeps me from going nuts on my boss for pulling a Lumburgh on me.