Application of Force Balance Method in Accident Reconstruction

This paper presents an application of the force balance method, which is intended to help generate vehicle stiffness or crush profiles when there is a lack of reliable data. The method follows from Newton's Third Law of Motion; i.e., the impact force exerted on one vehicle is balanced by the force exerted on the other vehicle. With the help of this method, crush profile or crush stiffness can be derived, and then the crush energy can be calculated with improved accuracy. This ultimately increases the accuracy of the overall accident reconstruction. Examples are given to illustrate the use of such a methodology in different impact situations, including side impacts, rear impacts into minivans and SUVs, and override/underride impacts. The force balance method is shown to be a good tool to obtain reasonable stiffness values.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0768015758
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper No. 2005-01-1188
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Chen, H Fred
  • Tanner, C Brian
  • Cheng, Philip H
  • Guenther, Dennis A
• Publication Date: 2005-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 115-127
• Monograph Title: Accident Reconstruction 2005

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash reconstruction; Crash tests; Force; Methodology; Newton's equations of motion; Rear end crashes; Side crashes; Sport utility vehicles; Stiffness; Underride override crashes; Vans
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crush profiles; Force balance method
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I80: Accident Studies; I95: Vehicle Inspection;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01005727
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0768015758
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 21 2005 7:57AM