MATCH OF THE DAY
This article reports an interview with J Happan-Smith, staff group leader for crashworthiness at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), about TRL's current crash compatibility work. The goal of this research programme, which is sponsored by various car manufacturers who donate cars, is to develop an outline procedure for compatibility testing. A new barrier is also being developed, which will help test a vehicle's structural stiffness and compatibility. Its load cell has a 125mm square load cell, and there is a 155mm deep barrier in front of the wall; cars are crashed full width into it. The new wall will help engineers acquire information about how a vehicle would mix with another car in the event of an impact. The results of such test and actual accident data show that incompatibility between colliding cars can have surprising results such as the unexpected occurrence of fatalities in some cases. One reason for using the barrier is because it is impossible to crash-test every car today to see how to improve its compatibility. The barrier also gives more accurate predictions of crash results than simulation or mathematical models. The present TRL project will be followed by another project to validate the compatibility assessment procedures.
-
Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14618966
-
Corporate Authors:
UK and International Press
Abinger House, Church Street
Dorking, Surrey United Kingdom RH4 1DF -
Authors:
- Johnson, G
- Publication Date: 2000-5
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: p. 43
-
Serial:
- TESTING TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
- Publisher: UK and International Press
- ISSN: 1461-8966
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automobiles; Crash tests; Crashes; Data collection; Deformation; Fatalities; Forecasting; Mathematical models; Measuring instruments; Research projects; Simulation; Standardization; Stiffness; Stresses; Test procedures; Vehicles
- ITRD Terms: 6155: Apparatus (measuring); 1243: Car; 1631: Collision; 8623: Data acquisition; 5595: Deformation; 1602: Fatality; 132: Forecast; 1648: Impact test (crash); 6473: Mathematical model; 8557: Research project; 9103: Simulation; 9075: Standardization; 5931: Stiffness; 5575: Stress (in material); 6288: Test method; 1255: Vehicle
- Subject Areas: Research; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00795161
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
- Files: ITRD
- Created Date: Jul 7 2000 12:00AM