Passenger Vehicle Dynamic Response and Characterization of Side Structure during Low- to Moderate-Speed Side Impacts

A significant portion of real-world passenger vehicle side impacts occur at lower speeds than testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Test data from low- to moderate-speed side impacts involving late-model passenger vehicles is limited, making the evaluation of vehicle impact response, occupant loading, and injury potential challenging. This study provides the results of low- to moderate-speed impact testing involving a late-model mid-size sedan. Two full-scale Non-Deformable Moving Barrier (NDMB) side impact crash tests were conducted at speeds of 6.2 mph (10.0 kph) and 13.4 mph (21.6 kph). Instrumentation on the late-model sedan used for the test series included tri-axis accelerometers and seat belt load cells. In both tests, instrumented Hybrid III 50^th percentile-male Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs) were restrained in the driver and passenger seats using the standard three-point seat belts. Response data for the vehicle, barrier, and ATDs was recorded using onboard data acquisition, and on- and off-board real-time and high-speed video cameras. In addition, the deformation to the side of the sedan was quantified from pre- and post-test laser scan data.

Results from the test series provided data regarding accelerations, velocity change, and restitution. The damage to the side structure of the vehicle was assessed and conclusions regarding damage initiation and damage progression are discussed. Conservation of Momentum and Conservation of Energy analyses are presented and force-displacement characteristics and energy dissipation were evaluated and compared. Utilizing the data that was developed from the test series, vehicle side stiffness modeling was also conducted.