CRASH ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN SUBCOMPACT AUTOMOBILES

Research programs conducted at Calspan to improve structural crashworthiness of subcompact cars are described. In two separate but related investigations, front structural designs intended to improve crash energy management were developed and adapted to a Datsun 510 and Chevrolte Vega. The results indicated substantial improvement over performance obtained from identical tests with conventional automobiles. Finally, the problem of providing crash energy management in small cars is contrasted with that of standard size cars. Results demonstrate that crash energy is more easily managed in the subcompact class automobile. /SAE/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the 3rd International Conference on Occupant Protection.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers

  485 Lexington Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10017
• Authors:
  • MILLER, P M
  • Ryder Jr, M O
  • Shoemaker, N E
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Pagination: 8 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compact automobiles; Crash tests; Crashworthiness; Energy absorption; Management; Vehicle front end
• Old TRIS Terms: Small car
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080622
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 740572, SAE P-53
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 6 1975 12:00AM