The world-wide vehicle community has for the last five years focused its attention on side impact crashworthiness. Now NHTSA has published a prospective timetable for the introduction of side impact legislation-revised FMVSS 214. Although it is essential for a vehicle to pass a legislative test it must also perform well during real-life accidents.

Volvo has developed an in-house test method in which good resemblance to real-life accidents is achieved. It was against the background of this in-house test procedure that Cranfield Impact Centre investigated the potential for enhancing the performance of a conventional production car during side impacts.

The methodology uses a hybrid technique for evaluating side impact crashworthiness. Iteration with the technique enables identification of compatible component properties and hence to enhanced side impact crashworthiness. The methodology is described, discussed and demonstrated in this paper.