Configuring Friction Parameters in MassZone

Add friction zones to the MassZone prediction by drawing an enclosed area with a continuous line.

To add a friction zone:

1. Draw a continuous line that covers the area with specific friction. For example, you could recreate an icy patch on a road.

2. Color and fill transparency area (for appearance only).

3. Select the filled area, and from the tool panel, click Add To MZU Terrain.

4. Under MassZone Options, set the Ground Friction value.

A) Ground Friction - The static friction value between the software and the and the vehicle tires. You can also set this value in MassZone preferences (see below).

B) Terrain Priority - When multiple friction zones overlap, the software uses the one with the higher priority. This is useful when you need to draw a smaller friction zone over an areas of a much larger one.

C) Friction Only - This MassZone setting allows tires to ‘follow’ 3D Terrain surfaces. Friction Only allows you to specify a friction zone such as a rectangle, but place it underneath a 3D Terrain surface, such as a Google map with generated terrain. Then, you can the friction zone without changing the 3D Terrain Follow setting. Enabling Friction Only prioritizes the setting.

5. During the prediction run, MassZone tests the location of each tire and uses the friction values of the MassZone terrain under the tires. Any MassZone friction terrain overwrites the global default friction setting.

The following example shows steering into a turn without, and then with, configured friction zones. The first example shows a global friction setting of .8. The second example repeats the same maneuver with a setting of .2. The initial velocity is set to 45mph, with braking to make the turn. You can see in the second example that includes the icy patch friction zone, the vehicle was unable to make the turn.

Global Friction Set to .8

Friction Zone Set to .2

For more information on configuring MassZone friction preferences, see MassZone Options and Preferences.