Narrow Object Impact Analysis and Comparison with Flat Barrier Impacts

Crash behavior in narrow object impacts was examined for the perimeter of a 4-door full size sedan. Additional test data was obtained for this vehicle by impacting four sedans with a rigid pole mounted to a massive moving barrier (MMB) in the front, right front oblique, right side, and rear. The vehicles were stationary when impacted by the MMB. Two of the four cars were repeatedly impacted with increasing closing speeds in the front and side, respectively. Each test was documented and the resulting deformation accurately measured. The stiffness characteristics were calculated for the perimeter of car and were presented using the power law damage analysis model. The vehicle's crash performance in these pole tests was compared to that of NHTSA's flat fixed barrier tests (deformable and non-deformable) for the front, side, and rear of this vehicle.