In order to obtain more information from the side impact tests, a pole was fully instrumented with triaxle load cells. Also, a sled modification was carried out providing a sub-frame view of the vehicle during the entire test and making possible to compare the structure and element deformations with the obtained data.
An in-depth analysis of vehicle structural behavior focused on the forces received by the vehicle during the pole side impact test was made. A crash test was set to validate the acquisition system of the instrumented pole. The obtained data like the forces and the deformations were analyzed in depth and used for a structural study of the vehicle. The data acquired by the acquisition system was used to obtain a force diagram from the pole and a comparison was made with the vehicle absorption mechanisms and structural elements involved.
Moreover, the force data was compared with the sub-frame view and with the structural element’s deformation. With the results, it was possible to have a complete view of the interaction between the vehicle and the pole and how it affects the vehicle structure during the entire test. In order to obtain those results, frame to frame with the high-velocity videos form different positions were obtained and the sub-frame view of the car during the test was used This kind of study are carried out for the clients, due to confidentiality reasons no pictures will be sown in this paper.
The fully instrumentation of the pole and the sub-frame vision will make it possible to know the most critical parts of the vehicle structure in the side impact pole test and their performance. Also, it will help to define the structural parts that need to be improved in the vehicle and the different aspects that need to be taken into account in order to guarantee the safety of the occupants.