IMPROVED METHOD FOR DETERMINING VEHICLE AND OCCUPANT KINEMATICS IN FULL-SCALE CRASH TESTS (WITH DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)

This paper presents details of proposed improvements to the ways that full-scale crash test data are analyzed. In particular, the basic formulation of the flail space method presented in NCHRP Report 230 is shown to contain several simplifications that have never before been examined in detail. The NCHRP Report 230 formulation and its history are briefly reviewed, followed by an extensive discussion of improvements that would make the flail space method more physically correct and more general. The potential sources and magnitudes of error in the current model are explored, and new techniques are described. Examples using actual crash test data are provided to illustrate typical magnitudes of error associated with each simplification. A computer program is briefly described that implements these improvements.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1989/1233/1233-014.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPROVED+METHOD+FOR+DETERMINING+VEHICLE+AND+OCCUPANT+KINEMATICS+IN+FULL-SCALE+CRASH+TESTS+(WITH+DISCUSSION+AND+CLOSURE)&author=M.+Ray&author=J.+Carney+III&publication_year=1989
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309050057
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1233, Design and Testing of Roadside Safety Devices. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Ray, Malcolm H
  • Carney III, John F
• Discussers:
  • Michie, Jarvis D
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 132-144
• Monograph Title: DESIGN AND TESTING OF ROADSIDE SAFETY DEVICES
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1233
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer programs; Crash tests; Crashes; Data analysis; Errors; History; Improvements; Kinematics; Mathematical analysis; Testing; Vehicle occupants; Vehicles
• Old TRIS Terms: Flail space
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; History; Passenger Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495144
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-309-05005-7
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 30 1990 12:00AM