ΔV, BEV and Coefficient of Restitution Relationships as Applied to the Interpretation of Vehicle Crash Test Data

Prior theoretical work relating barrier equivalent velocity (BEV) and change in vehicle velocity, ΔV, has either neglected restitution or mischaracterized its role. Based on fundamental structural dynamics principles, improved relationships between BEV, ΔV, coefficient of restitution, and vehicle mass and stiffness are formulated. These corrected relationships are then utilized in the assessment of four classes of vehicular impact testing: vehicle to vehicle (VTV), vehicle to infinitely massive rigid barrier (VRB), vehicle to infinitely massive compliant barrier (VCB) and vehicle to finite mass movable rigid barrier (VFMB).