Improvement in car-to-car computability~Physics, design constraints, and assessment test methodology and criteria
Technical Paper
2002-04-0063
Sector:
Event:
Vehicle Safety 2002
Language:
English
Abstract
Accident studies conducted during the last twenty-five years
clearly show that car-to-car, head-on collision is a major impact
configuration to take into account in order to improve safety on
the roads. With new self-protection ratings all cars offer
equivalent behavior against a fixed obstacle. So, in the future,
the main progress will have to be made in car-to-car
compatibility.
Recent studies have shown the feasibility of designing
compatible cars for both structure behavior and occupant
protection. However, some requirements on front unit design could
make this aim more difficult to achieve. We suggest developing a
more comprehensive approach in order to better take into account
all the constraints.
In addition to improve car-to-car compatibility, we propose:
first, to create homogeneous front ends to avoid energy deficiency
(partner protection). And then, to control the crush force level of
vehicles by both enforcing a minimum resistance of the passenger
compartment (self-protection) and putting under control the energy
absorption of the front unit of the car.
A testing procedure against deformable barrier is also proposed
and presented to verify the aggressiveness level of the front
unit.