Status of enhanced front-to-front vehicle compatibility technical working group research and commitments

Barbat, Saeed

Affiliations

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper describes a part of ongoing progress and research conducted by the Front-to-Front Compatibility Technical Working Group (TWG) to enhance vehicle compatibility in vehicle-to-vehicle frontal crashes. As a short-term goal, the TWG developed and implemented Phase I performance criteria, based on static measurements of the Primary Energy Absorbing Structure (PEAS) height, to improve geometrical compatibility. This will enhance structural interaction, through better matching of frontal component geometries, between cars and light trucks, in frontal crashes. Options include better matching of bumper heights, longitudinal frame rail heights, and more evenly distributing impact forces across the fronts of vehicles. All participating manufacturers’ new light trucks up to 10,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), with limited exceptions, must meet Phase I requirements by September 1, 2009.

The focus of Phase II research for the TWG is the investigation and evaluation of Front-end performance. This will include research to investigate test procedures and performance metrics to assess potential dynamic front-end geometric, stiffness, and any other relevant performance characteristics that would enhance partner protection without any significant degradation in self-protection.

Test and simulation results obtained from frontal impacts with various Load Cell Walls (LCW) and from vehicle-to-vehicle impacts in various frontal impact configurations to support phase II research were analyzed and presented to help assess and improve vehicle compatibility. Average Height of Force (AHOF) obtained from frontal impact with LCW was investigated as a compatibility metric. Initial finding was the AHOF alone is insufficient metric and did not correlate with Aggressivity Metric (AM) defined by NHTSA. Alternative metrics and test procedures are under investigation by the TWG. Phase III research will focus on front stiffness matching between cars and trucks and also on passenger car compartment strength and integrity. The investigation will lead to the development of a test to determine appropriate front-end stiffness characteristics and criteria that would strike an appropriate balance between small vehicle passenger compartment strength and large vehicle energy absorption characteristics.

Links

URL: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv19/05-0463-O.pdf

Cited Works (4)

Year	Entry
1998	Gabler HC, Hollowell WT. NHTSA’s vehicle aggressivity and compatibility research program. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.640-649.
1999	Summers S, Prasad A, Hollowell W. NHTSA’s vehicle compatibility research program update. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-4, 1999; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 1999-01-0071.
1998	Gabler HC, Hollowell WT. The aggressivity of light trucks and vans in traffic crashes. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 23-26, 1998; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 980908.
1996	Hollowell WT, Gabler HC. NHTSA’s vehicle aggressivity and compatibility research program. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.576-592.

Cited By (9)

Year	Entry
2007	Subramaniam K, Verma M, Nagappala R, Tedesco R, Carlin L. Evaluation of stiffness matching concepts for vehicle safety improvement. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2007	Takizawa S, Higuchi E, Iwabe T, Emura M, Kisai T, Suzuki T. Investigation of structural factors influencing compatibility in vehicle-to-vehicle side impacts. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2007	Mohan P, Smith DL. Finite element analysis of compatibility metrics in frontal collisions. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2007	Scarboro M, Rudd R, Sochor M. Nearside occupants in low delta-V side impact crashes: analysis of injury and vehicle damage patterns. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2007	Verma MK. Enhanced vehicle collision compatibility: progress report of US technical workgroup for front-to-front compatibility. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2007	Barbat S, Li X, Reagan S, Prasad P. Vehicle compatibility assessment using test data of full frontal vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-full width deformable barrier impacts. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2009	Yonezawa H, Mizuno K, Hirasawa T, Kanoshima H, Ichikawa H, Yamada S, Koga H, Yamaguchi A, Arai Y. Summary of activities of the compatibility working group in Japan. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2011	Johannsen H, Adolph T, Thomson R, Edwards M, Lázaro I, Versmissen T. FIMCAR – frontal impact and compatibility assessment research: strategy and first results for future frontal impact assessment. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 13-16, 2011; Washington, DC.
2013	Stein M, Johannsen H, Thomson R. FIMCAR: influence of SEAS on frontal impact compatibility. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 27-30, 2013; Seoul, South Korea.