This paper reports on a cooperative research project between the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services and Transport Canada. This project was a parametric study aimed at better understanding the effects on side impact injury of: (a) trolley mass; (b) barrier stiffness; (c) barrier stiffness distribution; (d) barrier face height above ground; (e) crabbed or perpendicular impact; and (f) of impact speed. The following observations on injury risk can be made from the tests: (1) The 2 largest effects for the driver are increasing the height of the barrier face (mainly thoracic) and test speed (all body regions); (2) Increasing the trolley mass, with a bullet/target mass ratio less than 1, has the effect of increasing only the pubic force; (3) Doubling the barrier stiffness increases injury risk in only the pelvic area; and (4) the custom high and stiff element (attempting to replicate a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)) increases both pelvic and abdominal loading. (A)
Abstract