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Vehicle and Occupant Response in Low Speed Car to Barrier Override Impacts
Technical Paper
1999-01-0442
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
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English
Abstract
There has been considerable investigation into vehicle bumper response in low speed accidents. A bumper to bumper collision often results in very little or no apparent damage even though the collision might have been significant. However, when two vehicles which have considerably different bumper heights collide, the resulting damage quite often is visually extensive but it is confined to relatively weak sheet metal, lighting, and/or grill components. The amount of research dedicated to bumper override in low speed impacts is much more limited.
In an effort to add to the base of knowledge relative to low speed bumper override impacts, the authors conducted a series of barrier impacts involving several vehicles with human occupants. The impacts were in the 3 to 8 km/hr range. The vehicles were instrumented with an accelerometer and a velocity sensor. The occupants were instrumented with 8 accelerometers. For comparison, each vehicle (with occupant) was first impacted into the barrier with normal bumper contact. Then an override fixture was attached to the barrier, and other impacts were performed while maintaining all other conditions as identical as possible.
Comparison of occupant accelerations for barrier versus override impacts at similar speeds is presented. Photographs of test damage as presented may be useful in estimating speed change and/or accelerations of other vehicles involved in actual accidental collisions.
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Citation
Goodwin, V., Martin, D., Sackett, R., Schaefer, G. et al., "Vehicle and Occupant Response in Low Speed Car to Barrier Override Impacts," SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-0442, 1999, https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-0442.Also In
References
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- Craig, Victor Nov/Dec 1995 Repeat Truck Underride Crash Tests of a 93 Honda Civic and 90 Ford Taurus Accident Reconstruction Journal 34 40
- Bumper Underride Crash Test Series 1996 Test Results 1997 Synetics Road Safety Research Corporation
- Anything But Rugged, Utility Vehicles Betray Their Flimsy Designs in 5 mph Bumps 1996 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - Status Report