BASIC RESEARCH IN CRASHWORTHINESS II

Results obtained on the major research program 'Crashworthiness II,' are summarized. The program was constituted as eleven different work items or tasks and performed during the period July 1970 to May 1973. Specific results obtained from each task have been fully documented in a series of twenty interim reports issued during the course of the study. A crashworthy design suitable for typical full size automobiles to provide protection during front, side and rollover collisions was developed. Modified front structures for a wider class of vehicle type; namely, luxury, compact and subcompact automobiles were also developed. In all instances, test results from these modified vehicles were compared to similar data for conventional (unmodified) automobiles. Generally, the structural modifications resulted in considerable reduction in passenger compartment intrusions while maximum decelerations were nominally unchanged. Structural automotive design elements included consideration of steering column assembly, crash detection and state-of-the-art occupant restraint systems. Areas where improvements are needed were identified. An analogue/digital data acquisition and reduction system was developed and used extensively within the program. Analytical methods for analyzing frame structures undergoing dynamic impact with fixed objects were developed for both two and three-dimensional frame structures. The analysis includes effects of large deformation, material rate-sensitivity and workhardening on dynamic structural performance.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also report dated Jul 73, PB-222 589.
• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225
• Authors:
  • MILLER, P M
• Publication Date: 1973-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 158 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Crash injury research; Crash tests; Crashes; Crashworthiness; Design standards; Dynamic tests; Manual safety belts; Research; Safety engineering; Safety equipment; Steering gears; Structural analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Structural properties
• Old TRIS Terms: Dyanmic tests; Nhsb
• Subject Areas: Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050793
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CALSPAN-YB-2987-V-2 Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FH-7622
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Jan 31 1974 12:00AM