Car-to-car side impacts:​ computerized crash reconstruction

Burgett, August L.; Monk, Michael W.

Affiliations

¹U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Abstract

This paper describes the injury relations which result when car-to-car crashes are analyzed using a computerized accident reconstruction procedure.

The results of the study are presented in the form of graphical relations between injury severity and crash severity. Effects of factors such as impact location, seating position and vehicle weights are discussed. THIS PAPER EXPLORES the use of a relatively new tool for accident reconstruction - Simulation Model of Automobile Collisions (SMAC). The capability of this program to simulate a wide variety of crashes is described in detail elsewhere ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) * .

This study is limited to the reconstruction of side impact collisions in which two passenger vehicles are involved. The need for redesigning vehicles based on an understanding of this crash condition is amply demonstrated by the fact that 28 percent of passenger car occupant fatalities and 41 percent of passenger car occupant injuries are caused by side impacts ( 4 ).

The results obtained during this study are (a) the development of a methodology for data analysis and (b) a relation between crash severity and injury causation. The results are based on a small sample of cases from the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation (MDAI) file and hence, definitive statistical conclusions are not possible. However, patterns are apparent and suggest relations between accident parameters and occupant injuries. These suggested relations are discussed and interpreted.

The first section of the paper provides a brief description of the SMAC program and describes its use. This is followed by a discussion of the selection process for the cases which have been reconstructed. The final sections of the paper describe the reconstruction and the results.

Links

DOI: 10.4271/751154

SAE: 751154

Cited Works (2)

Year	Entry
1973	McHenry RR. Computer program for reconstruction of highway accidents. In: Proceedings of the 17th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1973; Coronado, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:409-435. SAE 730980.
1974	Jones IS. Results of selected applications to actual highway accidents of SMAC reconstruction program. In: Proceedings of the 18th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 4-5, 1974; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:89-111. SAE 741179.

Cited By (3)

Year	Entry
1976	Kahane CJ, Smith RA, Tharpe KJ. The National Crash Severity Study. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). October 12-15, 1976; Washington, D.C.493-516.
1976	Danner M, Langwieder K. Car/vehicle side impacts: a study of accident characteristics and occupant injuries. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). October 12-15, 1976; Washington, D.C.516-540.
1977	Langwieder K. Load of car structure and injuries of occupants in side impact car collisions with trucks and objects. In: Proceedings of the 1977 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 7-9, 1977; Berlin, Germany.219-241.