Finite element analysis of compatibility metrics in frontal collisions

Mohan, Pradeep; Smith, David L.

Several numeric measures have been proposed to assess crash compatibility between two vehicles. The measures under investigation in this study are the Average Height of Force 400 (AHOF400) and the Crush-Work Stiffness 400 (Kw400), both measured in 35 mph full-frontal rigid load cell barrier tests. AHOF400 is a measure of the vertical centroid of forces exerted on the barrier surface for the first 400 mm of crush. Kw400 is a measure of the work required to crush 400 mm of a vehicle's front end.

Several studies in the past have concluded that there are large inherent errors in the AHOF measure. One of the main factors influencing the error in this measure is the size of the load cell on the barrier face. In this study, different barrier concepts are examined which can reduce or eliminate the dependency of AHOF400 on load cell size. A finite element analysis was used as a basis to recommend a barrier design that can accurately measure AHOF400. In addition, the influence of impact speed and vehicle mass on AHOF400 and Kw400 are discussed.

Due to the errors associated with the height of force measurement, the relationship between occupant injury measures and height of force matching in the light vehicle crash data is not well understood. The barrier proposed in this study, which eliminates the error in the AHOF400 measure, will enable us to better understand the effects of height of force matching in the vehicle fleet.

Year

Entry

1998

Gabler HC, Hollowell WT. NHTSA’s vehicle aggressivity and compatibility research program. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.640-649.

2001

Mizuno K, Tateishi K, Ezaka Y. Test procedures to evaluate vehicle compatibility. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2005

O’Reilly P. Status report of IHRA compatibility and frontal impact working group. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.

2005

Barbat S. Status of enhanced front-to-front vehicle compatibility technical working group research and commitments. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.

2003

Verma MK, Lavelle JP, Lange RC. Perspectives on vehicle crash compatibility and relationship to other safety criteria. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.