THE "IMPAC" COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION

The computer program "IMPAC" (Impact Momentum of a Planar Angled Collision) was developed for use in accident reconstruction to study the impact phase of a collision. It may be used for vehicle to vehicle or vehicle to fixed object impacts. Collisions are modeled as a vector impulse in two-dimensions taking place at a specified point in each two-dimensional vehicle. A common velocity is reached at this point for the inelastic collision with complete lockup. An optional condition is available to study sideswipe type collisions in which the colliding points are permitted to slide relative to each other at a prescribed speed along a defined plane of slip. The program has been validated by comparison with the data from 16 staged crash tests conducted by the NHTSA.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Published in Field Accidents: Data Collection, Analysis, Methodologies, and Crash Injury Reconstructions P-159. International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Michigan, February 25-March 1, 1985.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Woolley, R L
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 247-263
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Society of Automotive Engineers, Incorporated
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Crash injury research; Crash reconstruction; Crashes; Research
• Old TRIS Terms: Impac /computer program/
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452056
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 850254, HS-039 236
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1986 12:00AM