Vehicle compatibility combines aspects of both self and partner protection. Self protection involves a vehicle’s compartment strength and occupant protection systems. Partner protection involves vehicle design attributes that work towards providing occupant crash protection of a vehicle’s collision partner. Research has suggested that good engagement of the front structures and high compartment strength could be effective components for improving compatibility between passenger cars and other vehicles [1]. Studies have shown, however, that incompatible force distributions and greater relative front end stiffness are prevalent in the fleet. To research this issue, the Progressive Deformable Barrier (PDB) was evaluated for its ability to assess the compatibility between the front end force of vehicles equipped with and without compatibility countermeasures.

The paper investigates self protection and partner protection in the offset frontal crash test configuration using the data produced by a joint research program carried out at the Union Technique de l’Automobile du Motocycle et du Cycle (UTAC) in conjunction with the Directorate for Road Traffic and Safety (DSCR) in France and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States (U.S.). The program was initiated to investigate whether barrier deformation using the PDB, intrusion, and dummy injury measures could differentiate compatibility performances between vehicles with and without advanced frontal structures designed specifically to address vehicle compatibility.