Over the past several years, Dynamic Science, Inc., under funding from Fiat Auto S.p.A., developed a methodology for evaluating vehicle crash compatibility. The ultimate goal was to provide compatibility characterization technology in the frontal, side, and rear impact environments. The result of this research has been extremely encouraging, providing accurate analysis and predictive capabilities, as well as justification of the methodology approach.

Because of the increasing concern for vehicle crash compatibility, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) acquired the Fiat Methodology in 1980. The NHTSA then increased the funding of an ongoing program to apply the Fiat Methodology to a side impact research program. Frontal and side structural characterizations were used in the side impact analysis.

This paper summarizes the results from the above NHTSA research program emphasizing the applicability of the Fiat Methodology to the characterization of vehicle structural responses in side impacts. Validation of the side structure characterization is discussed and presented along with comparisons between predictive analysis and crash test results.