Development of a Test Methodology for Evaluating Crash Compatibility and Aggressiveness. Volume I. Summary Report

摘要

The objective of the program was to help establish a test methodology for evaluating vehicles' crash compatibility and aggressiveness. As a result of this program, the NHTSA Test Device was developed to measure the basic types of aggressiveness namely, architectural, mass and structural aggressiveness. The Test Device is a unique segmented honeycomb load-measuring tool which is adaptable to both moving barrier and fixed barrier collisions. The methodology used for evaluating vehicles' crash compatibility and aggressiveness included use of the Test Device and related analytical techniques. The report summarizes the design criteria for the Test Device, highlights the results of eight car-to-Test Device collisions, presents a summary of the analysis and comparison of previous crash test data, and discusses methods for assessing vehicle crash compatibility and aggressiveness.