Vehicle Crash Severity Assessment in Lateral Pole Impacts

This paper surveys some current technologies in reconstructing lateral narrow object impacts. This is accomplished through a multi-step process. First, staged crash test data is reviewed and presented in order to understand the observable vehicle structural deformation trends. A commonly used crush energy reconstruction algorithm (CRASH¹) is then applied to the test data and an analysis is made of the application of this tool to this impact mode. The use of default structural parameters as used in CRASH 3 is also discussed. A linear and angular momentum analysis is developed in order to demonstrate closed form vehicle dynamics prediction methodologies for non-central lateral impacts. The momentum methods presented are compared to a commonly used impact simulation tool. Finally, change in velocity (ΔV) and the use and analysis of ΔV for lateral pole impact reconstruction is discussed.