Car structural characteristics of fatal frontal crashes in Sweden

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Lindquist, M.^1,2; Hall, A.³; Björnstig, U.¹

Car structural characteristics of fatal frontal crashes in Sweden

Int J Crashworthiness. 2004;9(6):587-597

© Woodhead Publishing Ltd

Affiliations

¹Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Division of Surgery, Umeå University, SE-90185 Umeå

²Saab Automobile AB, Trollhättan SE-46180

³Enginuity Services International, Woking, England, GU 22 ODY
Abstract and keywords

This paper provides results from in-depth real world crash investigations of fatal frontal crashes with belted occupants. A new method has been used regarding data collection of vehicle deformations. This method allows a detailed analysis of actual load paths acting on the vehicle during the crash event.

By using this method it was identified that small overlap crashes accounted for 48% of the belted fatalities which corresponds to an overlap < 30% and not including the drive train as an active load path. Crashes that correspond to load paths usage similar to the Euro & US NCAP crash test protocols accounted for 23% of the fatalities.

A comparison of the new data collection methodology to the existing SAE J224 practice indicates that the SAE J224 practise overestimates the width of front structural involvement.

These results points out the necessity to identify actual load paths involved in crashes in order to evaluate current crash test standards and future vehicle compatibility issues.

Keywords: frontal collision, fatalities, compatibility, small overlap, deformation coding, crash investigation
Links

DOI: 10.1533/ijcr.2004.0313

WoS: 000225947700003

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Cited By (16)

Year	Entry
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.
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.
2013	Arbogast KB, Locey CM, Hammond R, Belwadi A. Injury risk for rear-seated occupants in small overlap crashes. In: 57th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 22-25, 2013; Quebec City, QC.267-279.
2009	Brumbelow ML, Zuby DS. Impact and injury patterns in frontal crashes of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2009	Sherwood CP, Nolan JM, Zuby DS. Characteristics of small overlap crashes. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2011	Hallman JJ, Yoganandan N, Halloway D, Rinaldi J, Pintar FA. Analysis of thoracic loading, kinematics, and injuries in small overlap impacts: field data and full-scale vehicle tests with dummies. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 13-16, 2011; Washington, DC.
2011	Saunders J, Craig MJ, Suway J. NHTSA’s test procedure evaluations for small overlap/oblique crashes. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 13-16, 2011; Washington, DC.
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2015	Prasad P, Dalmotas D, German A. The incidence and severity of small overlap frontal crashes in NASS-CDS. In: Proceedings of the 24th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 8-11, 2015; Gothenburg, Sweden.
2008	Törnvall FV, Holmqvist K, Davidsson J, Svensson M, Gugler J, Steffan H, Håland Y. Evaluation of dummy shoulder kinematics in oblique frontal collisions. In: Proceedings of the 2008 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 17-19, 2008; Bern, Switzerland.195-210.
2009	Blum J, Scullion P, Morgan R, Digges K, Kan C-D. Structural attributes of the striking vehicle that control aggressivity toward the struck-vehicle in frontal collisions. In: Proceedings of the 2009 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 9-11, 2009; York, UK.189-199.
2021	Parenteau CS, Courtney A, Campbell IC, Lau E. An update on front-seat occupant injury rates in frontal crashes: focus on modern vehicles. In: Proceedings of the 2021 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 8-10, 2021; Online.394-430.
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2014	Prasad P, Dalmotas D, German A. The field relevance of NHTSA’s oblique research moving deformable barrier tests. Stapp Car Crash J. November 2014;58:175-195.