Predicting Low-Speed Collision Descriptors using Dissimilar Collision Data

In low-speed collisions, motor vehicles can lose a significant fraction of their initial kinetic energy without plastic deformation or damping elements in their bumper assemblies. Five vehicles were subjected to multiple, non-damaging barrier and vehicle-to-vehicle impacts. Position, velocity, acceleration and force data were recorded for all collisions. Modeling vehicles as non-rigid two degree of freedom systems accurately predicted velocity and restitution responses for five vehicles in barrier and vehicle-to-vehicle impacts.