Browse Topic: Override / underride crashes

Items (6)
Evaluation of General Motors Event Data Recorder Performance in Semi-Trailer Rear Underride Collisions2020-01-13284/14/2020
The objective of this study was to analyze the validity of airbag control module data in semi-trailer rear underride collisions. These impacts involve unusual collision dynamics, including long crash pulses and minimal bumper engagement [1]. For this study, publicly available data from 16 semi-trailer underride guard crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) were used to form conclusions about the accuracy of General Motors airbag control module (ACM) delta-V (ΔV) data in a semi-trailer rear underride scenario. These tests all utilized a 2009 or 2010 Chevrolet Malibu impacting a stationary 48’ or 53’ semi-trailer at a speed of 35 mph. Nine tests were fully overlapped collisions, six were 30% overlapped, and one was 50% overlapped [2]. The IIHS test vehicles were equipped with calibrated 10000 Hz accelerometer units. Event Data Recorder (EDR) data imaged post-accident from the test vehicles were compared to the reference IIHS data. For each test, root mean square error (RMSE), the percent error over time, and the difference between the EDR ΔV and the IIHS ΔV, was quantified, plotted, and related to crash pulse. This analysis revealed a general trend of decreasing EDR ΔV parity with an increasing crash pulse duration, although overall differences remained low for most tests. Eleven tests, all with airbag deployments, converged towards an average of 3.3% error at the end of the crash pulse, which were 150-270 ms. EDR recorded ΔVs were in the range of 29.8-39.9 mph. Five tests, three of which were non-deployments, diverged to higher percentage error averaging 12.7% at an EDR ΔV of 31.8-40.0 mph. All higher error tests were 30% overlapped and had the highest crash pulse durations of 240-300 ms. One fully overlapped test generated highly unusual EDR data due to failure of the rear underride guard mounting bolts and plates.
Famiglietti, NicholasHoang, RyanFatzinger, EdwardLanderville, Jon
Validation of Crush Energy Calculation Methods for Use in Accident Reconstructions by Finite Element Analysis09-06-02-000910/4/2018
The crush energy is a key parameter to determine the delta-V in accident reconstructions. Since an accurate car crush profile can be obtained from 3D scanners, this research aims at validating the methods currently used in calculating crush energy from a crush profile. For this validation, a finite element (FE) car model was analyzed using various types of impact conditions to investigate the theory of energy-based accident reconstruction. Two methods exist to calculate the crush energy: the work based on the barrier force and the work based on force calculated by the vehicle acceleration times the vehicle mass. We show that the crush energy calculated from the barrier force was substantially larger than the internal energy calculated from the FE model. Whereas the crush energy calculated from the vehicle acceleration was comparable to the internal energy of the FE model. In full frontal impact simulations, the energy of approach factor (EAF) has a linear relation with the residual crush, which had been validated in previous experimental studies. In our study using FE analysis, we found that the slope of EAF versus the residual crush was comparable with that of the dynamic crush energy versus the dynamic crush for crashes at 55 km/h. Using this slope and the residual crush from a 55 km/h impact test, the slope and the intercept of the EAF vs. residual crush can be determined using only one crash test. A database of the slopes and the intercepts was made using Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP) tests. In offset impact simulations, the crush energy calculated from the crush profile agreed with the internal energy of the car FE model when at least one front rail was involved. In oblique impacts, the correction factor for crush energy is not necessary within 20 degrees of principal direction of force of the car’s longitudinal axis.
Numata, ShusukeMizuno, KojiIto, DaisukeOkumura, Dai
Characteristics of Trailer Rear Impact Guard - Interdependence of Guard Strength, Energy Absorption, Occupant Acceleration Forces and Passenger Compartment Intrusion2008-01-01554/14/2008
FMVSS 223 and 224 set standards for “Rear Impact Protection” for trailers and semi-trailers with a gross weight rating greater than 10000 pounds. A limited amount of experimental data is available for evaluating the different performance attributes of rear impact guards. The crash tests are usually limited to fixed parameters such as impact speed, guard height, strength and energy absorption, etc. There also seems to be some misunderstanding of the interdependence of guard strength and energy absorption, and their combined effect on the guard's ability to limit underride while keeping occupant acceleration forces in a safe range. In this paper, we validated the Finite Element (FE) model of an existing rear impact guard against actual FMVSS 223 tests. We also modified a previously evaluated FE model of a 1990 Ford Taurus by updating its hood geometry and material properties. Finally, through a series of simulations, we provided insight into the interaction between guard strength, guard energy absorption, Passenger Compartment Intrusion (PCI) and the acceleration forces potentially experienced by a vehicle occupant. Performance characteristics such as strength and energy absorption were evaluated for impact speeds ranging from 25 to 50 mph involving four guard strength levels, namely a rigid guard, a minimally compliant guard, and two compliant guards with twice and thrice the strength specified in FMVSS 223.
Tavakoli, Massoud S.George, Vijay A. M.
A Trap for Humans: The Challenges of the “Guillotine Effects”95220710/1/1995
We are in a decade of great technological progress, catalyzed by the development of the computer, which supplies tools that were unthinkable in the past, in order to accelerate the pioneering of developments for the betterment of mankind. In the field of automotive safety, remarkable developments like AIR BAGS, and the anti-blocking breaking system, have complemented the safety brought by the safety belts. Automobiles are improving each year, in terms of comfort, aerodynamic profiles, more powerful and efficient engines, with less pollution, very high acceleration rates and sophisticated commands, as if they were destinated to run alone in perfect streets and highways. In everyday utilization, however, the scenario is completely different, full of risky situations, brought by high speed and a great number of other different causes. Among them, a dramatic situation has existed since the beginning of the automotive industry, in which the occupants of smaller vehicles are totally defenseless, cowardly trapped, waiting for the coming seconds, to be inexorably decapitated, like animals in a slaughter house. This is the case of the collision of cars against the rear of trucks, when not equipped with reliable underride guards. In these cases, all the above mentioned safety devices are useless. This situation is particularly serious in Brazil, since there is no legislation that could make compulsory the installation of reliable guards, by lack of technical projects that could be applied to the great diversification of truck types. As an aggravating factor, there are no official statistics to precisely identify this kind of accident, but it is a well known fact that Brazil is the world champion of accidents in the transit. Some officials however estimate that underride collisions happen every day on the state roads only, and that 90% of the victims die or are severely mutilated, which makes the scenario for all the roads and streets very frightening. How many persons are decapitated per day?
Schmutzler, Luis O. F.
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