McHenry Software News!

Last update:01/02/2010 | Main site | Forum | Licensee only Site |

• medit32 Updates!

  • The software automatically alerts you when new updates are posted.
  • Expect additional updates to msmac, the graphics & animation, help files, etc soon!
  • The beta of smaciter is up and running!
    • The automatic iteration of smac is for current licensees ONLY, so renew or signup and Stay tuned!

• smaciter! The next generation accident reconstruction tool.

• SMAC 2003 - The Automatic Iteration of SMAC  presented at SAE 2003

• If you haven't updated to medit32 or are a new user:

  • Please see medit32 update information

  • See pricing information

• New! McHenry Software Forum!

  • We have added a forum for questions, answers and information about our software and accident reconstruction in general. Be sure to read the Welcome message on the forum!
  • Please visit the McHenry Software Forum!

• 2007 NYSTARS impact with sideslap

  • As a part of an INCR discussion (International Network of Collision Reconstructionists) on yahoo.com, some questions arose on sideslap collisions. There was also mention of a full scale crash test run as part of the 2007 NYSTARS conference. We had looked at the test as part of our 2008 McHenry Reconstruction Seminar. So we posted up a preliminary simulation on :

  • Also see our Forum Discussion on the topic.

  • The video is of a preliminary msmac simulation which depicts velocity vectors changing from impact though the sideslap

  • Here's a graphic and tabular summary of the results which includes the positions, velocities, momentum and kinetic energy calculations.

• 21st Annual IATAI conference presentation

  • September 2007 Brian McHenry gave a 2 hour presentation at the 21st Annual Illinois Association of Technical Accident Investigators (IATAI). The topic was "Evaluating Computer Modeling, Simulation & Animation":

    • McHenry paper for 2007 IATAI "Evaluating Computer Modeling, Simulation & Animation"

• SMAC  information

  • Please see our SMAC FAQ page

• John T. Fleck

  • Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend, passed away on Tuesday, October 17, 2006. Please see our information page.

• Man wins new trial in car-accident trial

  • "Computer programs can be used…However the mere fact that the results came from a computer does not make the answers accurate. You should always make a careful review of the input variables and how sensitive the outputs are to these inputs. This applies whether you are using a computer or a hand-held calculator". Traffic Accident Reconstruction, Northwestern Traffic Institute, §-page:68-32

  • “As scientists, engineers and accident reconstructionists, we should not let the unlimited possibilities of making anything look real (with animation) obscure our duty to perform a careful and detailed engineering analysis while also continually testing and evaluating the applied techniques, including computer programs, to achieve the most accurate reconstruction possible”.  McHenry Accident Reconstruction 2003, McHenry & McHenry

  • February 2005: Brian G. McHenry assisted the defense in obtaining a new trial (and releasing an injured man wrongly convicted from jail) in a case in which the PC-CRASH computer program was inappropriately applied to determine who was the driver of the vehicle. The State of Washington appellate court decision includes the statement "We conclude that within reasonable probabilities, but for the error in admitting the computer-generated simulation evidence, the outcome of his trial might have been different." The following are links to related information:

    • The Seattle Times news report, Feb 16, 2005

    • The appellate court decision (This is a local copy that has been added to our site for your convenience)

      • The opinion has since been moved by Washington Courts to http://www.legalwa.org/

      • Opinion is also available on findlaw.com:http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=wa&vol=2005_app/516477MAJ&invol=4

    • The Declaration by Mr. McHenry filed with the court

• McHenry Accident Reconstruction Book 

  • "This book is a collection of useful information related to the theoretical bases of reconstruction calculations"

  • What is it? and how to order?

• The Algorithms of CRASH

  • Presentation The Algorithms of CRASH by Brian G. McHenry

• SAE TOPTEC presentation

  • Presentation SMAC Computer Model by Brian G. McHenry

• Occupant Kinematics in Forensics

  • "Occupant Kinematics in Forensics: Evaluating the Appropriateness and Applicability of an ATB Application" by Brian G. McHenry from the 2002 ATB Users' Group Conference.

  • "Head Injury Criterion and the ATB" by Brian G. McHenry from the 2004 ATB Users' Group Conference.

• McHenry SAE papers

  • 40 years of SAE papers by McHenry & McHenry

  • SAE 2003

  • Presentation of paper 97-0947 SMAC97 - Refinement of the Collision Algorithm

  • Questions/Answers on papers

    • Q&A Related to SAE 97-0960

    • Q&A Related to SAE 97-0949

    • Authors' Reply for SAE 97-0960

  • Updated 2008! The 1997 SAE 'Peer Review' process, Journal of a journey through the SAE peer review process

  • SAE 2002

• Links page

  • Links to other web pages related to accident investigation and reconstruction.

• Textpad

  • Do you want a simple yet amazing text editor to replace notepad and avoid having to crank up Word or other word processors to view and edit text documents? It has a spell checker, a Find in files option, it is available in several languages (Italian, Japanese, French, etc.) and much more. See Textpad from Helios Software. It is a free download and only costs US$27 to register

• Questions, comments, etc.

  • Send by e-mail to McHenry@mchenrysoftware.com.