The Synthesis of the Optimized Impact Environment

A mathematical basis for the evaluation of a vehicle impact environment can be formulated and a “figure of merit” assigned to a vehicle structure to allow comparative evaluation in terms of crash injury preventing potential. An evaluation of occupant injury over a statistical sample makes possible the foregoing figure of merit. The synthesis of the optimized impact environment is implemented on a high-speed digital computer using advanced techniques of structural mechanics and the “figure of merit.” The result is a vehicle configuration which minimizes the statistical amount of injury occurring over a wide range of impact situations.