Title: A similarity scoring technique to analyse comparisons of real-world crashes to crash tests: initial results from a 12-point system

Authors: Kathryn L. Loftis; R. Shayn Martin; J. Wayne Meredith; Joel D. Stitzel

Addresses: Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University Center for Injury Biomechanics, School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA ' Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Watlington Hall, General Surgery Dept., Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA ' Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Watlington Hall, General Surgery Dept., Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA ' Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University Center for Injury Biomechanics, School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA

Abstract: The most similar crash test was identified for each of 100 Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) cases. To quantify the best comparison pairs, a Similarity Scoring Methodology (SSM) with 12 parameters was developed. The results showed 18 comparisons with 'low' (0-6 points), 72 with 'medium' (7-9 points) and 10 with 'high' (10-12 points) similarity scores. Thirty-nine CIREN cases received a similarity point for deltaV (within range: ±16.1 kph [10 mph]). Thirty-seven CIREN cases had a lower deltaV than the crash test. For occupant parameters, seating position and airbag deployment received similarity points most frequently (86% each). Occupant height and weight received points least frequently (41% and 20%, respectively), typically because CIREN occupants were shorter and heavier compared with Anthropometric Test Device (ATD) sizes. This work establishes a standard SSM to be used with future studies and provides information about key differences between crash tests and real-world crashes.

Keywords: motor vehicle crashes; vehicle accidents; similarity scoring; vehicle safety; CIREN; Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network; NHTSA; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; IIHS; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; crash comparisons; real-world crashes; crash tests; occupant parameters; seating position; airbag deployment; occupant height; occupant weight.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2013.055022

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2013 Vol.6 No.3, pp.191 - 212

Received: 14 May 2012
Accepted: 13 Aug 2012

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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