Browse Topic: Impact tests

Items (2,363)
This article presents a novel finite element modeling approach to predict the mechanical response of jellyrolls in large-scale explicit crash simulations up to the experimental occurrence of internal short-circuit. The proposed simplified layered model embeds membrane elements within a solid element mesh to improve the prediction in load cases dominated by the buckling and sliding of the jellyroll’s layered structure. The model was validated against experimental results from in-plane, out-of-plane, and bending tests on jellyroll samples extracted from prismatic lithium-ion cells. The experimental results confirmed the jellyroll’s high compressibility under out-of-plane loads and its behavior as a collection of unconnected layers under in-plane and bending loading. Compared to the widely used crushable foam model, the simplified layered model offered additional flexibility, especially for in-plane and bending load cases. Additionally, it meets critical time increment requirements for
Cioni, DanieleMorin, DavidStrating, ArjanKizio, StephanCostas, Miguel
Alloy wheels are essential safety components in two-wheeled vehicles. This study details the finite element analysis (FEA) used to simulate and evaluate the wheel and tire performance under the double mass impact load specified by the AIS-073 (Part-1) standard. The impact is carried out by dropping a striking mass along with a main mass onto the alloy wheel–tire assembly, as per the standard. The alloy wheel is modeled using a three-dimensional finite element model with elastic-plastic material behavior, and the tire is modeled with its internal elements (e.g., carcass, belt, etc.). The prediction of wheel impact failure is based on the total plastic work of the ductile fracture mechanism. The validity of results is confirmed by comparing the predicted permanent lateral rim deformation against the measured lateral deformation from a corresponding physical test.
Minz, Jai ShankarSingh, Sanjay KumarNirala, Deepak Kumar
This study investigates the structural improvement of recycled carbon fibre composites through hybridisation with continuous flax fibres to address sustainability concerns and performance limitations. Recycled carbon fibres, while environmentally beneficial, suffer from short, randomized orientations and lower mechanical properties limiting their application beyond decorative uses. This research explores whether incorporating unidirectional flax fibres can enhance rCF behaviour for structural applications. Six hybrid composite layup variants and two plain composites were manufactured using cold compression moulding with Ampro Bio Resin. Each hybrid configuration comprised eight layers, divided into four layers of recycled carbon and four layers of flax fibres oriented at 0°. Complete mechanical characterization was performed following ISO standards for tensile (ISO 527), flexural (ISO 178), and impact (ISO 179) testing. Results demonstrated significant performance improvements in
Hnatyk, DawidChrysanthou, AndreasDe Vuyst, TomIsmail, Sikiru
As automated vehicle technologies enable increased seat recline angles during travel, understanding the biomechanics of injury under these novel occupant postures becomes imperative. This study evaluated the pelvis injury response and associated kinematics of reclined small female post-mortem human surrogates (PMHS) subjected to frontal sled tests across three restraint configurations. Each configuration varied in seat stiffness and the presence of a knee bolster to assess their influence on pelvic dynamics and submarining risk. Nine PMHS tests were conducted using a consistent reclined posture (38° thorax, 75–80° pelvis angle) and production restraint systems. Submarining probability was estimated using a validated logistic regression referenced from previous study. Distinct pelvic kinematics, fracture patterns, and associated injury mechanisms emerged across the test configurations in the current dataset. Configuration 1, featuring a stiffer seat without a knee bolster, exhibited
Somasundaram, KarthikDriesslein, KlausPintar, Frank A.
With new energy vehicles developing rapidly, battery safety, as an important part of the impact on the range of new energy vehicles and vehicle safety, has become the focus of attention. The battery pack protection plate is a core component to protect the battery, its performance needs not only impact resistance, but also lightweight, honeycomb sandwich structure with its excellent energy absorption characteristics and weight reduction performance by the battery pack protection plate performance research. At present, the core-to-face sheet interaction in conventional sandwich structures subjected to impact loads has not been fully elucidated, and the quantitative characterization of damage is insufficient, so this paper aims to optimize the lightweight impact-resistant structure by exploring the synergistic energy dissipation mechanism between the high-strength core material and the steel plate. The study combines theory and simulation, adopting ideal rigid-plastic film theory to
Zhang, GuanghaoZhang, MingmingLuo, ChangjieZhou, JunZhang, FengqiangYu, WenzeLi, JiongfengGuo, Qingrong
This study aims to explore and evaluate the effect of various foot positions on the kinematic and kinetic response of the lower extremity during frontal crashes using a realistic vehicle interior. Frontal impact sled tests were performed with the Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint, 50th-percentile Male (THOR-50M) and Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint, 5th-percentile Female (THOR-05F) anthropometric test device (ATD) in the driver’s seat of a midsize SUV testing buck (with realistic interior components including an instrument panel with steering wheel and steering wheel airbag, seat, three-point seat belt with pretensioner and force-limiter, accelerator pedal, brake pedal, knee airbag, and seat belt retractor pretensioner). Six sled tests were performed in two principal directions of force (PDOF) [three each in frontal (0°) and oblique (−20°) configurations]. The right foot was positioned on the accelerator pedal, fully on the brake, and half on the brake. A single test was
Noss, JuniorDonlon, John-PaulMorris, AnnaSamier, GermainPark, JosephForman, Jason
Currently, adult anthropomorphic test devices used in regulatory and consumer information crash testing in the United States are targeted to represent a small female (5th percentile) and an average male (50th percentile). The anthropometry determined previously might not represent the current population, or as investigated in the current study, those that are at least moderately injured during a motor vehicle crash. The objective of this study was to use field data to determine if the current frontal anthropomorphic test devices are representative. Data from the National Automotive Sampling System–Crashworthiness Data System (2010-2015) and Crash Investigation Sampling System (2017–2023) were queried for sex, age, size, and injury information for front seat occupants in frontal crashes. Additional datasets used were from the National Trauma Data Bank and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to field data, the most frequently injured female and male is approximately
McNeil, ElizabethAtwood, JonathanRudd, RodneyCraig, Matthew
The aims of this study were to investigate the kinematics of child anthropomorphic test devices in a large sample of rear-facing child restraint system installations and the effects of anti-rebound features and load legs on the kinematics of rear-facing child anthropomorphic test devices. The test matrix included a general sample of 70 rear-facing child restraint system installations to observe trends in frontal crash tests; 14 full-scale crash tests with paired comparisons to investigate the effect of anti-rebound features; and five paired comparisons of rear-facing child restraint systems installed with and without a load leg. The paired t-test was used to determine the statistical significance of differences in kinematic responses. In the general sample, 84% of anthropomorphic test devices in infant seats with the base in outboard seats interacted with the first-row seat. In 52% of tests, the anthropomorphic test device head directly contacted the front seatback. Head accelerations
Tylko, SuzanneTang, Kathy
Previous rear-facing post-mortem human subject (PMHS) studies utilizing a reinforced seat have prompted questions as to whether the seat could have been a contributing factor to the severe rib and pelvis injuries observed in those experiments. In response, a recent PMHS study used an unreinforced seat in a similar experiment, which was expected to mitigate severe injuries by dissipating energy from seatback deformations. However, the PMHS tested in the unreinforced seat sustained even more severe rib fracture numbers than in the reinforced seat. No studies have investigated how additional variables (i.e., countermeasures) may influence rib fractures in high-speed rear-facing frontal impacts (HSRFFI). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of an airbag-equipped seat (AES) on male PMHS responses and injuries. Rear-facing sled tests were conducted using five mid-size male PMHS seated in the AES at ΔV of 56 km/h: PMHS1 with no airbag as a baseline, PMHS2 with a seatback airbag
Kang, Yun-SeokDeWitt, TimothyWensink, TimothyMarcallini, AngeloJung, Yong HyunLee, Dong GilHarm, Jae JunKo, SeokhoonHunter, RandeeAgnew, Amanda M.
This study provides an updated characterization of real-world frontal crash types—considering overlap and obliquity—based on their overall frequency and associated injury outcomes. The results of this study will support an evaluation of how well NHTSA’s frontal oblique crash test condition addresses the current population of serious frontal crashes, as compared to frontal test modes in existing crashworthiness programs. U.S. field crash data from 2017 to 2023 were analyzed to classify frontal crashes by coded damage characteristics. Oblique frontal crashes were defined as those with principal direction of force between 10°–40° and 320°–350°. Non-ejected belted first and second row occupants in model year 2000 and newer passenger vehicles absent a rollover event were included. Occupants were stratified by sex, age, and body mass index, and injury outcomes based on moderate, serious, and fatal thresholds were analyzed across crash configurations. Among the belted first row occupants
Rudd, Rodney W.
This study investigated how vehicle front-end geometry, impact speed, and vehicle category influence injury risk to a midsize male pedestrian. Eighty-one generic vehicle (GV) models representing sedans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), pickup trucks, and minivans sold in the United States were developed by morphing three base models using an automated pipeline. Front-end parameters that were varied included ground clearance (GC), bumper height (BH), hood leading-edge (HLE) height, hood length (HL), bumper lead angle (BLA), hood angle (HA), and windshield angle (WSA). Each vehicle impacted the Global Human Body Models Consortium 50th percentile male simplified pedestrian (GHBMC M50-PS) model at 30, 40, and 50 kph, totaling 243 simulations. Boundary conditions followed the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) pedestrian test protocol. Thirty-five injury metrics were extracted across the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and lower extremities. Linear mixed-effects regression
Poveda, LuisMiller, Logan E.Edwards, Colin C.Pollock, MadelineArmstrong, William M.Hsu, Fang-ChiGayzik, Scott F.Weaver, Ashley A.Stitzel, Joel D.Devane, Karan S.
Objective The objective of this study was to examine the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) neck and spine responses in reclined seating configurations with and without a backless belt-positioning booster (BPB) in far-side lateral oblique impacts. Methods The LODC was seated on a production passenger seat with an integrated seatbelt and tested in nine lateral oblique impact (80° from frontal) sled tests (31.3 km/h). A condition with a nominal seatback angle (~25°) with a backless BPB and two conditions with reclined seatback angles (~45° and ~60°) with and without a BPB were compared. Each condition was repeated, except for the 60° without BPB. Peak upper neck tension force and lateral moment, T1, T6, and T12 lateral rotation, lumbar axial and lateral shear forces, and lumbar axial moment (Mz) were extracted. Results With noBPB, upper neck tension (45° noBPB: 2.0 ± 0.1 kN; 60° noBPB: 1.8 kN) and lateral moment (45° noBPB: 31.7 ± 2.3 Nm; 60° noBPB: 29.2
Graci, ValentinaHumm, JohnHauschild, Hans
Enhancing child occupant protection requires a clear understanding of how seatbelt restraint parameters influence crash injury metrics. Real-world vehicles mostly include pretensioner and load limiter technologies to mitigate injuries, but rear seat restraints often do not include these. The FMVSS No. 213 test bench closely represents current restraint systems but does not involve such active vehicle restraint features. This study explores the response of the Large Omnidirectional Child ATD to evaluate potential injury mitigation under FMVSS No. 213 frontal sled test conditions. A simulation-based full factorial design was implemented in LS-DYNA to vary pretensioner retraction, retractor load-limiting thresholds, and webbing payout, with injury measures including head acceleration, head excursion, chest compression, and abdominal pressure twin sensors (APTS). Statistical evaluation using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey-Kramer post-hoc tests quantified main and interaction
Khattak, Mohid MuneebBendig, ColleenLouden, AllisonNoll, Scott
Five sled tests were performed with a Hybrid III (H-III) 10-year-old child sized Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) positioned in the 2nd row left seat of a three row 2006 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). A HYGE Sled buck was positioned to represent/replicate a side impact collision to the passenger (right) side of the SUV, with a Principal Direction of Force (PDOF) of 60 degrees, resulting in a far side side-impact for the ATD. Of the 5 tests performed, three of the five tests were performed with a delta-V of 17 mph, and two of the tests at a delta-V of 24 mph. Of the 17 mph tests, one test was performed with a properly restrained ATD, and two tests performed with improper restraint positioning. Both of the 24 mph tests were performed with improper restraint positioning, effectively identical to the two 17 mph delta-V tests. The two improper restraint use tests (at both 17 and 24 mph delta-V) included two different improper restraint scenarios. The first scenario of improper restraint
Luepke, PeterHewett, NatalieBetts, KevinVan Arsdell, WilliamWeber, PaulStankewich, CharlesMiller, GregoryWatson, RichardSochor, Mark
The design trend among analog speedometer and tachometer instruments in recent decades has been toward stepper motor drives. If power is interrupted during a traffic crash, such gauges often do not return to a zero reading. Speedometers and tachometers displaying residual readings after a crash have been observed with increasing frequency in recent years. In conducting a crash reconstruction, a question often arises as to whether such a residual reading corresponds to the indicated vehicle speed at the time of impact in the crash. Prior publications in this area have included a variety of crash tests under a wide range of relatively uncontrolled conditions. The present investigation evaluated a total of nine instrument clusters with a range of static torque required to move the needles when unpowered. The clusters were mounted on a HYGETM crash simulation sled and subjected to consistent impulses at orientations representing frontal, rear, left and right lateral, and left and right
Walker, JamesDuran, AmandaKent, StevenBarnes, DanielOsterhout, AaronClayton, Aidan
Vehicle-to-vehicle sideswipe collisions are unique in their impact characteristics because the vehicles typically do not reach a common velocity at impact. To better understand the characteristics and dynamics of sideswipe collisions, vehicle-to-vehicle crash testing was performed to find the relationships between variables related to the impact, such as closing speed, relative angle, and overlap depth. This paper discusses data collected for three sideswipe (oblique) impact tests conducted at a testing facility in Buffalo, New York. The tests were conducted using a passenger vehicle as the sideswiping vehicle, which impacted a stationary cargo van. The passenger vehicle was towed into the van at relative angles ranging from 8 to 15 degrees and at velocities of 5 to 20 mph. Two different (but identical) passenger cars and two cargo vans were used during the testing series. Test results were then utilized to investigate a methodology of analyzing sideswipe collisions as a combination of
Danaher, DavidMcDonough, SeanDonaldson, AndrewNeale, WilliamCochran, Reece
Electric vehicles (EVs) face unique safety challenges under pole side impact conditions, largely due to the presence of floor-mounted battery packs. Existing regulatory test procedures, such as FMVSS 214, primarily address occupant injury using full-height cylindrical obstacles. These procedures were originally developed for internal combustion vehicles (ICVs). However, real-world roadside crashes frequently involve obstacles of varying heights, such as guardrails, curbs, and median bases. While these obstacles pose limited risk to the passenger compartment, they can intrude into the battery pack and trigger thermal runaway. This study investigates the influence of obstacle height on EV pole side impacts. Finite element simulations of a commercially available sedan were conducted against rigid obstacles of different heights. Results reveal a non-monotonic trend of battery intrusion governed by the interplay between rollover dynamics and structural stiffness. Theoretical analyses were
Ma, ChenghaoXing, BobinZhou, QingXia, Yong
This paper presents research into the inertial displacement of brake pedals and the subsequent activation of brake light switches during crash events. In certain scenarios, such as multiple-impact crashes or crashes with pre-impact interactions such as curb strikes or sideswipes, inertial forces alone may generate sufficient brake pedal movement to trigger the brake switch, activating the brake lights. Such signals may be recorded by an Event Data Recorder (EDR) or observed by witnesses and incorrectly interpreted as an indication of intentional driver braking. To investigate this phenomenon, HYGE sled tests were performed using brake pedal assemblies and associated components from a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and a Cadillac DeVille passenger sedan. The assemblies were subjected to acceleration pulses simulating a frontal impact, with high-speed video used to capture brake pedal displacement and brake light activation. The tests demonstrated that inertial loading from a pulse with a
Walker, JamesDuran, AmandaBarnes, DanielOsterhout, AaronClayton, Aidan
A machine learning (ML)-based meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate rear seat occupant safety performance in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Moderate Overlap Frontal (MOF) 2.0 crash test. ML models were trained on historical IIHS crash test data to predict rear passenger injury metrics using vehicle architecture, restraint system characteristics, crash pulse parameters, and vehicle kinematics as input features. The models demonstrated high predictive accuracy and were subsequently used in a Sobol sensitivity analysis to identify critical design parameters influencing injury outcomes. The analysis revealed that rear passenger injury metrics were most sensitive to restraint system parameters. Specifically, crash pulse magnitude was the dominant factor for head injury metrics, pretensioner activation time for neck tension force, and lap belt force for the Neck Injury Criterion (Nij). For chest-related metrics—sternum deflection, dynamic belt position, and maximum belt
Lalwala, MiteshKim, WonheeFurton, LisaSong, Jay
Vehicle pitchover crashes can result in very severe accelerations and forces. Literature and test data available on pitchover crashes is sparse. This paper presents the results of a full-scale pitchover/rollover crash test using an instrumented vehicle in a controlled and documented off-road environment. The test vehicle was driven to the launch point by an off-board operator using remote steering and throttle controls. The test vehicle then experienced an airborne phase during which forward pitching occurred, followed by a front-to-ground impact which induced additional pitchover motion. Then, following the initial front and rear impacts, the vehicle transitioned from a pitchover to rollover motion before coming to rest. The resulting vehicle motion, vehicle damage markings, and ground markings were documented with various slow motion and real time camera views. The test vehicle was instrumented with accelerometers, rotation rate sensors, and other sensors, the results of which
Warner, MarkWarner, WyattSwensen, GrantPerl, Mark
Drivers obtain road information through head and neck rotation. In order to study the influences of head and neck rotation posture on occupant injury in frontal impact scenario, the THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety) AM50 human body model with five different head and neck rotation postures but without active muscles was adopted to study the biomechanical injury responses of occupant under the frontal impact scenario at 56 km/h in this study. Firstly, the kinematic responses of total body and head acceleration curves at the center of gravity predicted by PMHS (Post Mortem Human Subject) and THUMS AM50 human model under the sled test conditions were compared to verify the simulation model for subsequent study. Then, the THUMS AM50 human model with standard occupant seating posture was adjusted to have five different head and neck rotation postures with 0°, ±20°, and ±40° rotation angle, respectively. Finally, a series of frontal impact sled with or without airbag simulations were
Li, Dongqiangjiang, YejieTan, ChunLi, YanyanGong, ChuangyeWu, HequanJiang, Binhui
The WorldSID-50M dummy is widely adopted in regulatory and third-party testing programs (e.g., ECE, Euro-NCAP, C-NCAP) owing to its advanced design and superior biofidelity. However, in vehicle side oblique pole crash tests involving shoulder-covered side airbags - an expanded testing modality - excessive deflection of the upper thoracic ribs was observed. Notably, this phenomenon was absent in standard side moving deformable barrier (SMDB) tests. This study pursued two core objectives: (1) to systematically document the excessive upper thoracic rib deflection of the WorldSID-50M dummy in side oblique pole crash tests; and (2) to investigate the influence of arm-thorax interaction on such deflection using a Human Body Model (HBM) representative of a 50th percentile male occupant. Numerical simulation results reveal that while arm-thorax interaction does contribute to rib deflection, its impact on the excessive deflection of the upper thoracic ribs is negligible.
Zhou, DYChen, ShaopengYan, LiWu, JingLiu, ChongLv, XiaojiangYang, Heping
The validation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving (AD) Systems, especially at higher automation levels such as SAE Level 3 or 4, demands the testing of a vast array of scenario variants far exceeding the scope of standard safety specifications like Euro NCAP (The European New Car Assessment Programme). Autonomous vehicles require thorough real-world testing to ensure automotive safety. However, public road tests are costly and risky. Instead, virtual scenarios - digital twins of real environments - offer a safe, cost-effective testing alternative. Exhaustive simulation across this high-dimensional scenario space, which includes variations in actor behavior, environmental conditions, and event characteristics, is computationally infeasible. We propose a constraint-solving approach to address this challenge that leverages mathematical and geometric techniques to analytically assess the existence and validity of scenario variants prior to simulation. Two
Karve, OmkarSaurav, SaketPurwar, Prabhanshu
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of child anthropometry, seating postures (recline and rotation), seatbelt force limiting, and frontal collision scenarios on the kinematic response and injury risk in highly automated vehicles. The TUST IBMs 6YO-O model was conducted the frontal collisions in sled tests. This simulation matrix includes five percentiles six-year-old occupants (P3, P25, P50, P75, and P97), three seatback angles (20°, 30°, and 45°), four seat rotation angles (0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°), three seatbelt force limiting (2.6 kN, 3.6 kN, and 4.6 kN), and three frontal collision types. Injury risks were assessed including the child occupant's head, neck, chest/abdomen, and lumbar region in each simulation (n=540). The results indicate that the child anthropometry, the seatback angle, and the seat rotation angle have a significant influence on the motion responses. Statistically significant differences between all the groups within each independent variable category were
Wang, YanxinZhao, HongqianLi, HaiyanHe, LijuanCui, ShihaiLv, Wenle
Head restraint requirements and designs have evolved to minimize the delay in head support and reduce differential loading in the neck. As a result, they have become bigger, closer to the occupant’s head, and angled forward relative to the seat back. Head restraints have been found missing or detached in the field; they may be removed pre-crash due to occupant comfort issues, or post-crash for better accessibility during extrication. Additionally, although rare, head restraints may become detached in severe rear impacts due to occupant loading. To better understand occupant-to-head restraint dynamic interactions, nine rear sled tests were conducted. The test conditions were selected to represent worst case severe loading scenarios. An instrumented 50th Hybrid III ATD (Anthropomorphic Test Device) was lap-shoulder belted on a right-front seat. The neck was equipped with a bracket and lower neck load cell designed for rear impacts. Three series of sled tests were performed wherein the
Parenteau, ChantalBurnett, RogerDavidson, Russell
Integrated active and passive safety protection systems have made substantial contributions to reducing traffic accidents and mitigating human injuries. However, assessing such systems through vehicle collision tests is limited, as this approach cannot cover the wide range of accident scenarios. To address this gap, identifying and generating representative pre-crash scenarios from real-world accidents provides key boundary conditions for the setup of virtual test scenarios. In this study, we used the Future Mobile Traffic Accident Scenario Study (FASS) dataset to reconstruct 112 two-wheeler accidents. For each case, we extracted pre-crash dynamic information, static attributes, and environmental context. An autoencoder was employed to encode high-dimensional features of scenarios, and K-means clustering was applied to categorize the accidents into eight representative pre-crash scenarios. For each scenario, we examined the motion states of participants and further compared the
Wang, GuojieGao, XinLiu, SiyuanLiu, JiaxinLi, QuanShi, LiangliangNie, Bingbing
As part of this work, the accuracy requirements for the road friction coefficient estimation of a friction-adaptive automatic emergency braking (AEB) system are determined using a complex, nonlinear vehicle model. The AEB system varies its trigger distance depending on an estimated value of the road friction coefficient. The accuracy requirements are determined at a driving speed of 40 km/h depending on the severity classification of ISO 26262 in the statistically relevant Euro NCAP test scenario with a stationary target vehicle. MATLAB/Simulink is used as simulation software. The permissible estimation error (difference between estimated value and road friction coefficient) is determined by the severity classification S1 (light and moderate injuries). The results show that the positive permissible estimation error (road friction coefficient is overestimated) must not exceed about 30% of the road friction coefficient to comply with the severity classification S1 of ISO 26262.
Ahrenhold, TimWielitzka, MarkBinnewies, TomasHenze, Roman
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thoracic responses of the 50th-percenitle male Hybrid III, THOR, and post mortem human surrogates (PMHS) in the rear seat during frontal sled tests using conventional and advanced restraints in multiple vehicle environments. Twenty-one sled tests were conducted using the Hybrid III and THOR in seven vehicle bucks, and 12 PMHS sled tests were performed using four vehicle bucks. Trends in chest deflections between vehicles and restraint conditions were compared between surrogates. The Hybrid III and THOR thoracic injury risk predictions were compared to the thoracic skeletal damage observed during the PMHS tests. The Hybrid III chest deflections were statistically significantly greater for vehicles equipped with conventional restraints compared to those equipped with advanced restraints. The THOR chest deflections generally followed this trend, but the differences between restraint types were not statistically significant. Hence, the THOR
Albert, Devon L.Bianco, Samuel T.Guettler, Allison J.Boyle, David M.Kemper, Andrew R.Hardy, Warren N.
At present, commercial air travel rules do not allow people to sit in their own wheelchairs during flight. However, airline seating often does not meet medical needs. In response to current requests to allow this seating option, we researched the crashworthiness and safety of wheelchairs for potential use in aircraft. For motor vehicle travel, many wheelchairs meet voluntary standards for crashworthiness and safety per RESNA WC19. This project assesses whether WC19-compliant wheelchairs can meet FAA aircraft seating standards when secured using 4-point tiedowns. For the FAA horizontal impact testing, computer modeling indicated that a trapezoidal sled pulse was sufficient to represent the more typical triangular pulse, and that due to the flexibility of the tiedown webbing, the effect of the simulated pitch/roll element was minimal. During the initial two horizontal impact tests, fracture of the left front wheelchair caster was observed. The remaining five wheelchairs were tested with
Klinich, Kathleen D.Manary, Miriam A.Boyle, Kyle J.Vallier, TylerOrton, Nichole R.
This study focuses on improving the durability of steel wheel rims subjected to Multiple Pothole which is commonly found in Indian village roads — a critical scenario affecting vehicle safety and wheel lifespan. Initial steel wheel designs often face significant deformation or failure under repeated strikes and resulting in tyre air loss due to wheel bend, prompting the need for enhanced performance standards. In this research, a combination of finite element modelling, experimental impact testing, and material optimization strategies were employed to assess and improve the structural integrity of steel rims. Key parameters such as rim profile geometry & material composition were systematically varied to evaluate their influence on impact resistance. Results demonstrate that strategic design modifications and material enhancements can significantly increase the rim's ability to absorb energy and resist bending without substantial weight penalties. The findings offer practical
DEsigan, LakshmipathyP, PraveenK, ChandramohanC, Santhosh
Automotive OEMs can derive significant cost savings by reducing the quantity of physical crash tests and thereby accelerate product development, when they follow the Euro NCAP Virtual Testing procedure. It helps in optimizing the overall vehicle development process via more efficient simulations, as well as facilitates in early adoption of new safety regulations. In this pursuit, companies must comply with strict Euro NCAP requirements, which includes transparency and traceability of virtual tests. A major challenge therein is model validation – which requires highly precise detailing and extensive use of data for accurately replicating real physics of the problem. Deploying these workflows into an existing simulation process can be a complicated and time-consuming task, particularly when integrating various simulation and testing methods. A powerful simulation process and data management system (SPDM) can thereby assist companies to automate their entire simulation process, ensures
Thiele, MarkoSharma, Harsh
This paper investigates the current state of road safety for female occupants in India, with a particular focus on road accident statistics and the gaps in safety regulations. According to the Road Accident in India 2022 report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), female occupants constitute 16% of passenger car fatalities. Using a extensive dataset of 596 passenger car accidents involving at least one female occupant from the Road Accident Sampling System – India (RASSI), this study evalu the severity and patterns of injuries sustained by female drivers and passengers. The analysis identifies critical shortcomings in existing safety measures, particularly in addressing anatomical differences and male-centric safety designs. Gender-sorted injury trends reveal heightened vulnerabilities for women in crash scenarios. Current regulatory frameworks bank on crash test dummies developed on average male anthropometry, neglecting female-specific biomechanical needs in
Ayyagari, ChandrashekharG, Santhosh KumarRao, Guruprakash
This study is conducted to analyse the significance of the Bharat NCAP crash test protocol in real road crashes in India. Accident data from on-the-spot investigation (Road Accident Sampling System India) and Government of India’s, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways official road accident statistics 2023 is used together to understand the real road accidents in India. The current Bharat NCAP crash test protocol is compared against the real road accidents and the frequency of the same in discussed in this paper. A seven-step calculation method is developed to analyse real accidents together with existing crash tests by using similar crash characteristics like impact area, overlap and direction of force. This method makes the real accident comparable with the corresponding crash test by calculating the impact energy during the collision between the real accident and a collision under crash test conditions. Relevant parameters in real accidents that significantly influence the test
Moennich, JoergLich, ThomasKumaresh, Girikumar
Human Body Models (HBMs) are increasingly recognized by consumer protection agencies as essential tools for evaluating vehicle safety, complementing the use of traditional Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs). However, HBMs are new for product development and pose challenges in connecting them with the ATDs. These challenges can be overcome if a link is established for the injury metrics between HBMs and ATDs. The study aims to develop a chest deflection mapping function between the HBM Connect® 50M and three ATD models: Hybrid III 50M, THOR-50M and World SID 50M for thoracic assessment in impact scenarios. Several frontal and lateral thorax loading scenarios were selected from the HBM4VT qualification catalogue (Euro NCAP technical bulletin CP 550), including hub impacts and table-top seatbelt loading tests. Matched-pair LS-DYNA simulations were conducted with HBM Connect® 50M and the ATD models recording peak chest deflections for developing the mapping function. In the HBM Connect
Velmurugan, GopinathKumar, DevendraR, Udhaya KumarKulavi, PradeepSoni, AnuragTejero de la Piedra, RicardoFu, StephenLong, TengArora, TusharJagadish, RenukaShah, Chirag
A passenger vehicle's front-end structure's structural integrity and crashworthiness are crucial to ensure compliance with various frontal impact safety standards (such as those set by Euro NCAP & IIHS). For a new front-end architecture, design targets must be defined at a component level for crush cans, longitudinal, bumper beam, subframe, suspension tower and backup structure. The traditional process of defining these targets involves multiple sensitivity studies in CAE. This paper explores the implementation of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) in component-level target setting. PINNs integrate the governing equations into neural network training, enabling data-driven models to adhere to fundamental mechanical principles. The underlying physics in our model is based upon a force scheme of a full-frontal impact. A force scheme is a one-dimensional representation of the front-end structure components that simplifies a crash event's complex physics. It uses the dimensional and
Gupta, IshanBhatnagar, AbhinavKumar, Ayush
This study introduces a novel in-cabin health monitoring system leveraging Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radar technology for real-time, contactless detection of occupants' vital signs within automotive environments. By capturing micro-movements associated with cardiac and respiratory activities, the system enables continuous monitoring without physical contact, addressing the need for unobtrusive vehicle health assessment. The system architecture integrates edge computing capabilities within the vehicle's head unit, facilitating immediate data processing and reducing latency. Processed data is securely transmitted via HTTPS to a cloud-based backend through an API Gateway, which orchestrates data validation and routing to a machine learning pipeline. This pipeline employs supervised classifiers, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Random Forest (RF) to analyze features such as temporal heartbeat variability, respiration rate stability, and heart rate. Empirical
Singh, SamagraPandya, KavitaJituri, Keerti
Real-world crashes involve diverse occupants, but traditional restraint systems are designed for a limited range of body types considering the applicable regulations and protocols. While conventional restraints are effective for homogeneous occupant profiles, these systems often underperform in real-world scenarios with diverse demographics, including variations in age, gender, and body morphology. This study addresses this critical gap by evaluating adaptive restraint systems aligned with the forthcoming EURO NCAP 2026 protocols, which emphasize real-world crash diversity and occupant type. Through digital studies of frontal impact scenarios, we analyze biomechanical responses using adaptive restraints across varied occupant demographics, focusing on head and chest injury (e.g., Chest Compression Criterion [CC]). This study used a Design of Experiments (DOE) approach to optimize occupant protection by timing the actuating of these adaptive systems. The results indicate that activating
satija, AnshulSuryawanshi, YuvrajChavan, AvinashRao, Guruprakash
With the fast development of computational analysis tools and capacities during the past ten years, complex and substantial computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulations are now economically possible. While the cost of crash tests has risen steadily, the fidelity and complexity, which numerical simulations could address, has multiplied keeping the cost of computational analysis more stable. The fundamental goal of CAE is to achieve significant reduction in the number of physical tests conducted during the product development process. However, validating the CAE model with physical tests is essential to ensure accuracy and reliability. Simulations performed using a validated CAE model could be used to make decisions like airbag deployment or high voltage shutdown without an actual physical test being conducted. This paper discusses validating an electric commercial vehicle CAE model during a side impact thus emphasizing the safety of a high voltage battery system. The critical parameters
Upendran, AnoopKnuth, JosephKrishnappa, GiriPunnaiappan, Arunsankar
Crash test plays a very crucial role in determining the passenger safety along with driver safety in most modern vehicles. This has become a prominent factor for many buyers to choose a safe car. During crash test, many components tend to fail. Amongst them, the major safety critical component which hampers the drivability of a vehicle is Wheel and Tyre Assembly. With the introduction of low aspect tyres, the failure rate of these assemblies has increased. A very high importance is given to ensure these parts withstand the subject load as it is directly related to function of vehicle. Many methods are available to test the Wheel and Tyre assembly to ensure they pass the crash criteria. We have developed a novel test method which can simulate the crash pattern in the rig/bench level. The method employs a mechanical actuator which can be operated at designated load application to ensure the assembly undergoes the anticipated failure. The process is repeated with different types of
Medaboyina, HarshaVardhanSingh, Ram KrishnanSundaram, RaghupathiJithendhar, Ashokan
With increased deterioration of road conditions worldwide, automotive OEMs face significant challenges in ensuring the durability of structural components. The tyre being the primary point of contact with the road is expected to endure harshest of impacts while maintaining the other performance functions such as Ride & Handling, Rolling resistance, Braking. Thus, it is considered as the most challenging component in terms of design optimization for durability. The current development method relies on physical testing of initial samples, followed by iterative construction changes to meet durability requirements, often giving trade-off in Ride & Handling performance. To overcome these challenges, a frugal simulation-based methodology has been developed for predicting tyre curb impact durability before vehicle-level testing so that corrective action can be taken during the design stage.
Sundaramoorthy, RagasruobanLenka, Visweswara
Commercial vehicle sector (especially trucks) has a major role in economic growth of a nation. With improving infrastructure, increasing number of trucks on roads, accidents are also increasing. As per RASSI (Road Accident Sampling System India) FY2016-23 database, commercial vehicles are involved in 42% of total accidents on Indian roads. Involvement of trucks (N2 & N3) is over 25% of total accidents. Amongst all accident scenarios of N2 &N3, frontal impacts are the most frequent (26%) and causing severe occupant injuries. Today, truck safety development for frontal impact is based on passive safety regulations (viz. front pendulum – AIS029) and basic safety features like seatbelts. In any truck accident, it is challenging rather impossible to manage comprehensive safety only with passive safety systems due to size and weight. Accident prevention becomes imperative in truck safety development due to extremely high energy involved in front impact scenarios. The paper presents a unique
Joshi, Kedar ShrikantGadekar, GaneshDate, AtulKoralla, Sivaprasad
The objective of the present study is to examine trends in occupant kinematics and injuries during side impact tests carried out on vehicle models over the period of time. Head, shoulder, torso, spine, and pelvis kinematic responses are analysed for driver dummy in high speed side impacts for vehicle model years, MY2016-2024. Side impact test data from the tests conducted at The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is examined for MY2016-2024. The test procedure is as specified in AIS099 or UNECE R95, wherein a 950kg moving deformable barrier (MDB) impacts the side of stationary vehicle at 50km/hr. An Instrumented 50th percentile male EUROSID-2 Anthropomorphic Test Device is positioned in the driver seat on the impacting side. Occupant kinematic data, including head accelerations, Head Injury Criterion (HIC15), Torso deflections at thorax and abdominal ribs, spine accelerations at T12 vertebra, and pelvis accelerations are evaluated and compared. The “peak” and “time to
Mishra, SatishBorse, TanmayKulkarni, DileepMahajan, Rahul
PU foam shows a excellent energy absorbing dissipation properties during impact load so it commonly used in car seats, cabin and crash protection system. Specifically, in vehicle seats PU foams play a critical role in protecting occupants during crash scenarios by absorbing energy, distributing forces, and improving seatbelt performance, additionally providing countermeasures for head impact protection. The movement of the seat and the direction of the force during crash testing are highly unpredictable. The material behaviour of PU foam is captured using an isotropic, hyper-elasticity-based constitutive model available in LS-DYNA through MAT_083. This model is designed to take into account the foam's compressibility, sensitivity to strain rates, low Poisson's ratio, and hysteresis. The characterization of a PU foam with a nominal density of 65 kg/m3 was performed using quasi-static compressive testing of 0.01/s and dynamic compressive testing of 1/s,13/s, 120/s, as well as a quasi
Gaurav, Ashish KumarKrishnamoorthy, KunjuVaratharajan, Senthilkumaran
Rear-facing infant seats that are positioned behind front outboard vehicle seats are at risk of being compromised by the rearward yielding of occupied front seat seatbacks during rear-impact collisions. This movement can cause the plastic shell of the infant seat to collapse and deform, increasing the risk of head injuries to the infant. Current designs of rear-facing infant seats typically do not consider the loading effects from the front seatback during rear-impact situations, which results in weak and collapsible shell structures. Moreover, regulatory compliance tests, such as FMVSS 213, do not include assessments of rear-facing infant seats under realistic rear-impact conditions. as the bench used for the regulatory test lacks realistic vehicle interior components. This study emphasizes the need for revised testing methodologies that employ sled tests with realistic seatback intrusion conditions to facilitate the development of improved infant seat designs. Research shows that
Thorbole, Chandrashekhar
Occupant Safety systems are usually developed using anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), such as the Hybrid III, THOR-50M, ES-2, and WorldSID. However, in compliance with NCAP and regulatory guidelines, these ATDs are designed for specific crash scenarios, typically frontal and side impacts involving upright occupants. As vehicles evolve (e.g., autonomous layouts, diverse occupant populations), ATDs are proving increasingly inadequate for capturing real-world injury mechanisms. This has led to the adoption of computational Human Body Models (HBMs), such as the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) and Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS), which offer superior anatomical fidelity, variable anthropometry, active muscle behaviour modelling, and improved postural flexibility. HBMs can predict internal injuries that ATDs cannot, making them valuable tools for future vehicle safety development. This study uses a sled CAE simulation environment to analyze the kinematics of the HBMs
Raj, PavanRao, GuruprakashPendurthi, Chaitanya SagarNehe, VaibhavChavan, Avinash
Severe rear-impact collisions can cause significant intrusion into the occupant compartment when the structural integrity of the rear survival space is insufficient. Intrusion patterns are influenced by impact configuration—underride, in-line, or override—with underride collisions channeling forces below the beltline through the rear wheels as a primary load path. This force concentration rapidly propels the rear seat-pan forward, contacting the rearward-rotating front seatback. The resulting bottoming-out phenomenon produces a forward impulse that amplifies loading on the front occupant’s upper torso, increasing the risk of thoracic injury even when the head is properly supported by the head restraint. This study analyzes a real-world rear-impact collision that resulted in fatal thoracic injuries to the driver, attributed to the interaction between the driver’s seatback and the forward-moving rear seat pan. A vehicle-to-vehicle crash test was conducted to replicate similar intrusion
Thorbole, Chandrashekhar
Curtain airbags are the most effective protective systems to prevent severe/fatal head injuries in side collisions with narrow objects such as poles or trees. One of the important parameters of curtain airbags is the inflated zone i.e. the coverage area of the airbag, which decides the extent of head protection for occupants with different anthropometries in different seating rows. EuroNCAP first introduced the concept of Head Protection Device Assessment (HPDA) in 2015., In addition to the performance requirements in the dynamic test, EuroNCAP started assessing the deployed curtain airbag/s for its area coverage and verification of inflated zones for various anthropometries over occupant rows. In India, there is now a near total adoption of curtain airbags as standard fitment by the OEMs. Further, introduction of Bharat NCAP (BNCAP), a Perpendicular Pole Side Impact test is conducted for assessing the effectiveness of curtain airbags in a dynamic test, but currently, does not perform
Jaju, DivyanKulkarni, DileepMahajan, Rahul
High energy impact testing using free fall mass is a crucial method for evaluating the structural integrity, and safety performance of automotive components subjected to sudden impact forces. This study focuses on assessing critical parts such as wheel rims, suspension knuckles, commonly exposed to unintentional impacts during vehicle operation, maintenance, or collisions. The test involves dropping a standardized mass from predetermined heights onto the component to simulate real-world impact scenarios. Key performance indicators include deformation, crack propagation, fracture resistance, and energy absorption capacity. Wheel rims and knuckles are evaluated for their ability to maintain structural integrity under localized impact without compromising vehicle handling or safety. Seats and related interior structures are tested to ensure occupant protection during crash-like events. Other components, such as brackets, mounts, or housings, are included based on functional criticality
Roham, PrasadBagade, MohanSinnarkar, NitinPawar, Prashant RShinde, Vikram
The addition of far-side occupants evaluation conditions in C-NCAP2024 version is an important consideration in the development of passive safety in vehicles. This article conducts analysis and research on key points such as test conditions, test results, and influencing factors. Firstly, introduce the test conditions, methods, and protection evaluation of far-side occupants. Secondly, analyze the distribution of factors such as airbag type, armrest height, test waveform, head offset, and dummy damage in the test data. Finally, analyze the influence of five factors, including airbag type, armrest height, test waveform, test conditions, and belt pre-tightening, on the test results. Analysis has found that the WorldSID 50th dummy’s lower neck MX is prone to exceeding high performance limits, compared to single chamber and double chamber airbags, three chamber airbags provide better protection for far-side occupants; For loading waveforms, the probability of the head being in the orange
He, YonglongGu, HaimingGuo, XiaotianWang, Jingchen
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