Crashworthiness of the Subcompact Vehicle.

摘要

The study examined the crashworthiness of subcompact vehicles both analytically and experimentally. The analytical studies included statistical accident analysis and dynamic response modeling. Experimental testing to determine baseline performance consisted of ten dynamic impacts at various angles and velocities. The 1974production Pinto sedan provided adequate crashworthiness for 40mph BEV aligned frontal impacts, 30mph BEV offset and oblique frontal impacts,and 12mph BEV side impacts. A modified design was developed which improved the crashworthiness in the most significant modes. Specifically,the modified design provides safety in the frontal aligned mode to at least 50mph BEV,in the offset and oblique modes to at least 50mph,and in the side impact mode to at least 30mph.