For this paper, two prototype moving barriers were constructed to test three different bumper assemblies separate from their vehicles. Candidate bumper assemblies were mounted to the moving barriers for low speed impact testing with a stationary barrier and three other vehicles. Forty-three test series of 701 total impacts were done to compare bumper performance in moving barrier tests with their in-situ counterpart. Vehicle-to-fixed barrier, vehicle-to-vehicle, moving barrier-to-fixed barrier and moving barrier-to-vehicle tests were done using four different vehicles. The actual vehicle and moving barrier results were statistically compared. The hypothesis that a moving barrier can be used in place of a motor vehicle in low speed impacts was tested. (A)
Abstract