Target-vehicle modeling in crash analysis

Ford engineers have refined their computer crash models for simulating vehicle compatibility between light trucks and cars.

As sales of light trucks have increased, the vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility between these trucks and smaller cars has become a safety concern. Safety data analysis shows that the occupants of smaller cars are more at risk of injury than passengers in larger vehicles because of differences in mass, stiffness, and vehicle geometry. To improve the crash-compatibility performance between light trucks and cars, Ford automotive crash engineers have been using computer crash simulation as an alternate to costly prototype testing.

A target-vehicle model that provides reasonable and accurate results for a collision by different bullet-vehicle models in various modes must be available to allow accurate computer simulation of vehicle crash compatibility. This requires considerable effort, according to Ford engineers, including full-vehicle and component tests to provide vehicle responses and component characteristics.