Real world car crash investigations ? A new approach

Abstract

Abstract By actively researching real world crashes it has become apparent that existing methodologies for recording car deformation for severe injuries and fatalities are limiting our ability to effectively interpret the cause and effect relationship to the sustained injuries. This paper provides a historical view of crashworthiness development, explaining current data collection methods for analysing real world crashes before presenting a new approach in real world crash data collection. The new methodology aims to substantially improve our understanding and analysis of the cause and effect of injuries that are seen in everyday crashes. This improved understanding is achieved by examining the behaviour of the structural elements in the car body during a crash. A generic car model has been developed, consisting of beams, joints and plate areas, which is used during car inspection. The main goal is clear identification of the load path usage during the crash. It is identified that there is a need for better understanding of real world crashes so as to be able to provide the automotive industry with more accurate statistical information for different crash types. The authors note that accurate statistical information is required in order to guide future changes in the crashworthiness testing protocols to be effective in reducing the crash dynamics that are the cause of real world injuries. This paper singularly presents a new methodology, whilst referring to current ongoing work using this approach.