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Relationship between Frontal Stiffness and Occupant Compartment Intrusion in Frontal Crash Tests

Relationship between Frontal Stiffness and Occupant Compartment Intrusion in Frontal Crash Tests. James Saunders NHTSA. Outline. Background Methodology Vehicle classification Results Future research Conclusions. US Rating Systems. NCAP. IIHS. NCAP. IIHS. Background.

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Relationship between Frontal Stiffness and Occupant Compartment Intrusion in Frontal Crash Tests

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  1. Relationship between Frontal Stiffness and Occupant Compartment Intrusion in Frontal Crash Tests James Saunders NHTSA

  2. Outline • Background • Methodology • Vehicle classification • Results • Future research • Conclusions

  3. US Rating Systems NCAP IIHS NCAP IIHS

  4. Background • Nolan and Lund (2001) • Improved performance in IIHS Offset did not affect vehicle stiffness • Verma et al. (2003) • Fixed barriers lead to higher front forces • Saunders et al. (2005) • V-to-V tests had higher partner injuries for redesigned vehicles with improved IIHS offset

  5. Methodology • Matched NCAP and IIHS vehicles • Model years 1995 to 2006 • Calculated stiffness from frontal NCAP tests • Kw400, KwFinal and KwTotal from barrier force and vehicle accelerometers • Maximum toepan intrusion from IIHS • Examine relationship between test results • Aggregate by vehicle type and weight ranges

  6. Stiffness Calculations

  7. Vehicle Classifications

  8. Results • No overall relationship between Kw400 and toepan intrusion • Pickups were only category with a significant trend • Trends were different for compact and full size • KwTotal had similar results • KwFinal had no relationship to toepan intrusion

  9. Kw400 for Passenger Cars

  10. Kw400 for Sport Utility Vehicles

  11. Kw400 for Different Weight PUs

  12. Statistical Hypothesis Testing Pickups had a different relationship between Kw400 and toepan intrusion

  13. Discussion • Eight vehicle categories were used to compare stiffness and compartment intrusion • Only pickups had any trend • Different relationship for SUVs and pickups • Many pickups and SUVs are built on the same platform • Vehicle selection and limited sample size may have affected results • Mix of body integral and body on frame vehicles

  14. Future Research • Examine whether R94 Barrier provides a good measure for heavy pickup and SUV intrusion • Designed for smaller vehicles • Bottoms out during offset tests • Compare offset performance using progressive deformable barrier

  15. Dodge Stratus Barrier Deformations R94 PDB

  16. Ford F-250 Barrier Deformations R94 PDB

  17. Conclusions • Only pickups showed relationship between Kw400 and toepan intrusion • Heavy and compact pickups had different rate of change of stiffness per occupant compartment intrusion • Statistically significant

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