Proposed Extensions to Federally Mandated Bumper Testing

This paper compares the analytical response of a low speed, in-line, vehicle impact with that of a simulated bumper test involving a rigid striker. Results from a previously validated analysis procedure indicate that a rigid pendulum mass impact test on a vehicle bumper, such as the one currently mandated by the federal government, yields significantly different results from that of a typical two-vehicle impact. This paper then proposes methods by which the existing government tests could be extended to yield additional design and analysis data that could be used to help design lower vehicle compartment loadings.