The accuracy of winsmash delta-v estimates: the influence of vehicle type, stiffness, and impact mode

wbldb

Niehoff, P.¹; Gabler, H. C.²

The accuracy of winsmash delta-v estimates: the influence of vehicle type, stiffness, and impact mode

50th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)

Affiliations

¹Rowan University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Glassboro, New Jersey

²Virginia Tech Center for Injury Biomechanics, Blacksburg, Virginia
Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate the accuracy of WinSmash delta-V estimates as a function of crash mode, vehicle body type, and vehicle stiffness. The accuracy of WinSmash delta-V estimates was evaluated for 121 NASS/CDS 2000-2003 cases for which direct measurements of delta-V had been retrieved from an Event Data Recorder on the case vehicle. WinSmash was found to underestimate delta-V by 23% on average. WinSmash was found to be most accurate in crashes involving full frontal engagement of the vehicle structure. When using categorical stiffness coefficients, the accuracy of delta-V estimates was found to be a strong function of vehicle type. WinSmash underestimated delta-V for pickup trucks by only 3%, but underestimated delta-V for front-wheel drive cars by 31%. The use of vehicle-specific stiffness coefficients improved the accuracy of the longitudinal delta-V estimate. The single most important factor in improving WinSmash accuracy was the inclusion of restitution. After adjusting for restitution, WinSmash underestimated delta-V in frontal crashes by only 1% on average.

Cited Works (7)

Year	Entry
1998	Stucki SL, Fessahaie O. Comparison of measured velocity change in frontal crash tests to NASS computed velocity change. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 23-26, 1998; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 980649.
1996	O'Neill B, Preuss CA, Nolan JM. Relationships between computed delta V and impact speeds for offset crash tests. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1433-1440.
1998	Lenard J, Hurley B, Thomas P. The accuracy of CRASH3 for calculating collision severity in modern European cars. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.1242-1249.
2005	Niehoff P, Gabler HC, Brophy J, Chidester C, Hinch J, Ragland C. Evaluation of event data recorders in full systems crash tests. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.
2005	Niehoff P. The Accuracy of Energy-Based Crash Reconstruction Techniques Using Event Data Recorder Measurements [Master's thesis]. Rowan University; May 2005.
1998	Nolan JM, Preuss CA, Jones SL, O’Neill B. An update on the relationships between computed delta Vs and impact speeds for offset crash tests. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.1234-1241.
1982	Smith RA, Noga JT. Accuracy and sensitivity of CRASH. In: Proceedings of the 26th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 20-21, 1982; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:317-334. SAE 821169.

Cited By (38)

Year	Entry
2008	Bartsch AJ, Gilbertson LG, Prakash V, Morr DR, Wiechel JF. Minor crashes and "whiplash" in the United States. In: 52nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 6-8, 2008; San Diego, CA.117-128.
2008	Funk JR, Cormier JM, Gabler HC. Effect of delta-V errors in NASS on frontal crash risk calculations. In: 52nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 6-8, 2008; San Diego, CA.155-164.
2008	Pintar FA, Yoganandan N, Maiman DJ. Injury mechanisms and severity in narrow offset frontal impacts. In: 52nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 6-8, 2008; San Diego, CA.185-189.
2009	Hallman JJ, Brasel KJ, Yoganandan N, Pintar FA. Splenic trauma as an adverse effect of torso-protecting side airbags: biomechanical and case evidence. In: 53rd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 5-7, 2009; Baltimore, MD.13-24.
2009	Hampton CE, Gabler HC. NASS/CDS delta-V estimates: the influence of enhancements to the WinSmash crash reconstruction code. In: 53rd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 5-7, 2009; Baltimore, MD.91-102.
2010	Hampton CE, Gabler HC. Evaluation of the accuracy of NASS/CDS delta-V estimates from the enhanced winsmash algorithm. In: 54th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 17-20, 2010; Las Vegas, NV.241-251.
2010	Scullion P, Morgan RM, Mohan P, Kan C-D, Shanks K, Jin W, Tangirala R. A reexamination of the small overlap frontal crash. In: 54th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 17-20, 2010; Las Vegas, NV.137-147.
2011	Hallman JJ, Yoganandan N, Pintar FA, Maiman DJ. Injury differences between small and large overlap frontal crashes. In: 55th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 3-5, 2011; Paris, France.147-157.
2012	Morgan RM, Cui C, Digges KH, Cao L, Kan C-D. Impact and injury patterns in between-rails frontal crashes of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection. In: 56th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 14-17, 2012; Seattle, WA.255-265.
2013	Iraeus J, Lindquist M, Wistrand S, Sibgård E, Pipkorn B. Evaluation of chest injury mechanisms in nearside oblique frontal impacts. In: 57th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 22-25, 2013; Quebec City, QC.183-195.
2007	Sharma D, Stern S, Brophy J, Choi E-H. An overview of NHTSA’s crash reconstruction software WinSMASH. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2007	Wang Q, Gabler HC. Accuracy of vehicle frontal stiffness estimates for crash reconstruction. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2011	Craig MJ, Scarboro M, Ridella SA. Predicting occupant outcomes with EDR data. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 13-16, 2011; Washington, DC.
2011	Wiacek C, Rudd R, Collins LA. Real world analysis of rear seat occupant safety in frontal crashes. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 13-16, 2011; Washington, DC.
2011	Rhule H, Mallory A, Hagedorn A. Real world older occupant crash data and sensitivity of THOR-NT and WorldSID dummy thoraces. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 13-16, 2011; Washington, DC.
2013	Johnson NS, Sharma D. Preliminary evaluation of NASS-CDS side crash delta-V estimates using event data recorders. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 27-30, 2013; Seoul, South Korea.
2013	Ydenius A, Stigson H, Kullgren A, Sunnevång C. Accuracy of Folksam electronic crash recorder (ECR) in frontal and side impact crashes. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 27-30, 2013; Seoul, South Korea.
2017	Gabler HC, Sharma D. Accuracy of WinSMASH in rear crashes using event data recorders. In: Proceedings of the 25th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 5-8, 2017; Detroit, MI.
2008	Bartsch A, Gilbertson L, Prakash V, Morr D, Wiechel J. Minor rear aligned crashes in the United States: a pilot study of 98 crashes. In: Proceedings of the 2008 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 17-19, 2008; Bern, Switzerland.367-379.
2012	Morgan RM, Cui C, Marzougui D, Digges KH, Cao L, Kan C. Frontal pole impacts. In: Proceedings of the 2012 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 12-14, 2012; Dublin, Ireland.155-165.
2010	Lee J, Conroy C, Coimbra R, Tominaga GT, Hoyt DB. Injury patterns in frontal crashes: the association between knee–thigh–hip (KTH) and serious intra-abdominal injury. Accid Anal Prev. January 2010;42(1):50-55.
2011	Kononen DW, Flannagan CAC, Wang SC. Identification and validation of a logistic regression model for predicting serious injuries associated with motor vehicle crashes. Accid Anal Prev. January 2011;43(1):112-122.
2010	Hallman JJ. Detrimental Thoracoabdominal Interaction With Lateral Airbag Restraints [PhD thesis]. Wilwaukee, WI: Marquette University; December 2010.
2008	Gabauer DJ. Predicting Occupant Injury With Vehicle-Based Injury Criteria in Roadside Crashes [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; June 6, 2008.
2008	Thor CP. Characteristics of Thoracic Organ Injuries in Frontal Crashes [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; December 10, 2008.
2010	Hampton CE. Injury Risk of Road Departure Crashes Using Modeling and Reconstruction Methods [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; August 10, 2010.
2011	Johnson N. Assessment of Crash Energy-Based Side Impact Reconstruction Accuracy [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; May 3, 2011.
2013	Kusano KD. Methodology for Determining Crash and Injury Reduction from Emerging Crash Prevention Systems in the U.S. [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; 2013.
2015	Cobb BR. Laboratory and Field Studies in Sports-Related Brain Injury [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 25, 2015.
2015	Tsoi AH-d. The Potential of Event Data Recorders to Improve Impact Injury Assessment in Real World Crashes [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; May 27, 2015.
2016	Chen R. Driver Behavior in Car Following: The Implications for Forward Collision Avoidance [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; June 1, 2016.
2016	Johnson TR. Fleetwide Models of Lane Departure Warning and Prevention Systems in the United States [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; December 7, 2016.
2017	Scanlon JM III. Evaluating the Potential of an Intersection Driver Assistance System to Prevent U.S. Intersection Crashes [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 24, 2017.
2018	Holmes DA. The Effect of Lane Departure Warning Systems on Cross-Centerline Crashes [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; April 16, 2018.
2019	Bareiss M. Effectiveness of Intersection Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in Preventing Crashes and Injuries in Left Turn Across Path / Opposite Direction Crashes in the United States [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; November 5, 2019.
2021	Riexinger LE. Residual Crashes and Injured Occupants With Lane Departure Prevention Systems [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 22, 2021.
2023	Dean ME. Applications of Event Data Recorder Derived Crash Severity Metrics to Injury Prevention [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; March 20, 2023.
2011	Belwadi AN. Finite Element Reconstruction of Real World Aortic Injury in Near-Side Lateral Automotive Crashes With Conceptual Countermeasures [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; August 2011.