Development of a high deceleration full width frontal impact test for Europe

Edwards, Mervyn

To assess a vehicle’s frontal impact crashworthiness an integrated set of test procedures is required that assesses both the car’s self and partner (compatibility) protection. It has been recommended by the International Harmonisation of Research Activities (IHRA) frontal impact group that the set of test procedures should contain both full overlap and offset tests. Currently, in Europe only an offset test is used in regulation and consumer testing. In 2007, the European Enhanced Vehicle-safety Committee (EEVC) made a number of proposals for a set of test procedures, all of which contain full width and offset tests.

This paper presents the work performed by the European Commission 6th framework APROSYS project to develop a full width test procedure for Europe. It also describes an initial cost benefit analysis for its introduction into the European regulatory regime.

Accident analysis was performed using the UK CCIS and German GIDAS databases to help determine the test speed, what size dummies should be used and the relevance of including rear seated dummies in the test. A matrix of 12 full scale car crash tests was performed to determine the effect of including a deformable face, the effect of including rear seated occupants and to assess the test’s repeatability and reproducibility. As all the tests were instrumented with a high resolution Load Cell Wall, the repeatability and reproducibility of proposed metrics to assess a car’s compatibility were also assessed.

Year

Entry

2001

Cuerden R, Hill J, Kirk A, Mackay M. The potential effectiveness of adaptive restraints. In: Proceedings of the 2001 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. October 10-12, 2001; Isle of Man, UK.

2001

Foret-Bruno J-Y, Trosseille X, Page Y, Huère J-F, Le Coz J-Y, Bendjellal F, Diboine A, Phalempin T, Villeforceix D, Baudrit P, Guillemot H, Coltat J-C. Comparison of thoracic injury risk in frontal car crashes for occupant restrained without belt load limiters and those restrained with 6 kN and 4 kN belt load limiters. Stapp Car Crash J. 2001;45:205-224. SAE 2001-22-0009.

2001

Lomonaco C, Gianotti E. 5-years status report of the advanced offset frontal crash protection. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2003

Edwards M, Davies H, Hobbs A. Development of test procedures and performance criteria to improve compatibility in car frontal collisions. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.

2007

Faerber E. EEVC approach to develop test procedure(s) for the improvement of crash compatibility between passenger cars. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.