Car-car crash compatibility: development of crash test procedures in the VC-Compat project

Abstract

A major component of the EU Fifth Framework Programme sponsored project “Improvement of Vehicle Crash Compatibility Through the Development of CrashTest Procedures” (VC-Compat) focused on car-to-car frontal crash compatibility. The work program was composed of four main activities, a structural survey, cost-benefit analyses, crash testing, and supporting modeling work. All these activities focused on the development of two candidate test procedures, namely the full-width deformable barrier (FWDB) and progressive deformable barrier (PDB), which are capable of assessing a car's structural interaction potential. These tests have different approaches; the FWDB assessment is based on load cell wall force measurements, whereas the PDB assessment is based on deformation measurements. This work supports the activities of the European Enhanced Vehicle Safety Committee working group on frontal impact and compatibility, which has the task to propose draft test procedures to assess a vehicle's crash compatibility in 2007.