The Collision Behaviour of a Vehicle When Considered as a Multiple Mass System

When analyzing vehicle collisions and determining the impact impulse or the energy balance it is usual to assume that there is a single mass concentrated at one point in the vehicle. This method of observation is in most cases not correct for loaded commercial vehicles.

The behaviour of the individual masses was investigated in various collision tests whereby the load consisted of gravel, steel plates welded to the vehicle, belted and non-belted dummies or with the vehicle unladen. In the displacement of the individual masses in the vehicle the kinetic energy is partially converted to deformation energy in the area of load compartment and load, into potential energy and frictional energy. This relieves the impact zone of the vehicle and the collision partner.

A participation factor is defined which makes it possible to estimate to what extent the load mass or the occupant mass influences the vehicle deformation.