Frontal Crash Responses: Steering Column and Intrusion Analysis

摘要

Research and compliance testing of steering assemblies has shown that new columns perform at or near their full energy absorbing potential. Accident data analysis, however, indicates that the EA units seldom exhibit compression which utilizes their full capability. The cause of the discrepancy between the test results and the accident data is unknown, although a number of explanations have been offered. The crash matrix of the Frontal Crash Responses program provided an opportunity to examine the steering column performance under a variety of frontal crash configurations. The results show significant differences between dynamic motions and residual displacements. They also show column performance being dependent upon both the vehicle and the crash configuration. The effect of these results on unrestrained occupant response is included in the analysis.