ENERGY BASIS FOR COLLISION SEVERITY

This paper presents an objective technique for estimating the severity of automobile collisions. The vehicle damage and the dynamic force-deflection characteristics of the vehicle structure are used to estimate the energy absorbed in plastic deformation of the vehicle. The energy can then be expressed as an "equivalent barrier speed" (EBS). Data are presented relating residual crush and impact speed for full frontal barrier tests to provide the basis for a simple model of the force-deflection characteristics of the vehicle front structure. The results of this model are compared with test data to indicate the types of damage patterns for which the model appears valid.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Third International Conference on Occupant Protection, 1974.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers

  485 Lexington Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10017
• Authors:
  • Campbell, K L
• Conference:
  • Presented at the Third International Conference on Occupant Protection, 1974.
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 1-13

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash severity; Crash tests; Crashes; Energy absorption; Loss and damage; Mathematical models; Speed; Structural analysis; Structural mechanics; Testing; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Structural behavior
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080724
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE Paper No. 740565
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 1975 12:00AM