Title: Further development of the RED method to vehicle structural performance: assessment of crash compatibility

Authors: Aleksandra Krusper; Robert Thomson

Addresses: Division of Vehicle Safety at SAFER, Department of Applied Mechanics, Chalmers University of Technology, Lindholmspiren 3, SE-402 78, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Division of Vehicle Safety at SAFER, Department of Applied Mechanics, Chalmers University of Technology, Lindholmspiren 3, SE-402 78, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: An objective method for measuring compatibility is a prerequisite for improving crash performance and to further advance occupant safety in car-to-car collisions, but no suitable procedure has been developed to date. To date, based on car-to-car crashes, it is possible to conclude which pairs of cars are compatible, but it is not possible to quantify and compare the compatibility of one pair of cars to another. This study presents a further development of the Relative Equivalent Energy Displacement (RED) method to assess vehicle crash compatibility. The compatibility rating quantifies how the crash response of a car in barrier test differs from its crash response in a corresponding car-to-car crash configuration with another car assessed in a same test. It was shown that the method can be used even in the development phase of a vehicle crash structure.

Keywords: vehicle structural performance; crash compatibility; compatibility assessment; compatibility rating; internal energy; energy absorption; vehicle safety; RED method; relative equivalent energy displacement; crash performance; occupant safety; vehicle collisions; vehicle compatibility; vehicle crash structure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2015.066274

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2015 Vol.8 No.1, pp.65 - 84

Received: 13 Jan 2014
Accepted: 28 Jul 2014
Published online: 10 Dec 2014 *

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