INTRODUCTION TO ROADSIDE CRASH FORCE CONCEPTS

Relatively simple mathematical formulas are developed which can be used to estimate the magnitude and severity of automobile crash forces. The formulas reveal the most significant variable, such as speed, vehicle weight, vehicle size, impact angle, and stopping distance on the collision forces and severity. A brief discussion of the vehicle occupants' tolerance to impact forces and velocity changes is presented. These data are used to evaluate various types of collisions such as vehicle-to-rigid barrier or rigid pole or tree, vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-traffic rail, and vehicle-to-crash cushion. Some significant and interesting conclusions are indicated. (Author/TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, October 3-6, 1983.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Association for Automotive Medicine

  P.O. Box 222
  Morton Grove, IL  United States  60053
• Authors:
  • Hirsch, T J
• Conference:
  • 27TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE MEDICINE
  • Location: San Antonio Texas, United States
  • Date: 1983-10-3 to 1983-10-6
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 443-463
• Monograph Title: PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, USA, OCTOBER 3-6, 1983. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE MEDICINE

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Angularity; Automobiles; Braking performance; Conferences; Crash injury research; Crash severity; Crashes; Engineering tolerance; Estimating; Force; Forecasting; Impact; Injury severity; Mathematical models; Motor vehicles; Physiological tolerance; Research; Scale models; Set forward force; Simulation; Speed; Stopping distances; Structural models; Traffic speed; Variables; Vehicle occupants; Vehicle size; Vehicle weight; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Angles; Impact angle; Side
• Old TRIS Terms: Tolerances; Velocity changes
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 6427: Angle; 1695: Braking distance; 1243: Car; 1631: Collision; 8525: Conference; 5421: Force; 132: Forecast; 2051: Human tolerance; 6473: Mathematical model; 6205: Model (not math); 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 9074: Side; 9103: Simulation; 5408: Speed; 1715: Vehicle occupant; 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I80: Accident Studies; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389457
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Files: HSL, ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM