Side impact protection: the use of 3-D reinforced composite panels

Abstract

Abstract Improved side impact protection for occupants in road passenger vehicles is urgently required if the rate of fatalities due to this type of collision is to be curbed. The current wide use of side impact bars has undoubtedly reduced the number of occupant fatalities in many lateral collisions. However, this paper shows that side impact bars are only effective when the target vehicle is struck at 90° (direct lateral impact) and whereby the side structure intrusion into the passenger safety cell is almost vertical and to a greater extent controlled by the collapse mechanisms of the B-post and the sill which carry much of the impact loads. Furthermore, the paper shows the most frequent side impact scenario is the frontal diagonal lateral collision which accounts for 64% of the total side impact. In this type of accident, the side impact bars are ineffective and become lethal wedges. They fail at low loads through shearing of joints or of areas of high stress concentration and, thereafter bend inward into the passenger safety cell. In order to protect occupants under front diagonal lateral collision and indeed under all types of side impacts, the paper has suggested an alternative method - using 3-D NEFESYF reinforced composite panels.