A method is set forth that will allow the impact velocity of a bullet vehicle to be quantified when the points of rest of the vehicle are unknown. The method is based on the rigid body dynamics of the CRASH3 damage algorithm and analyzes the momentum exchange at impact in a single global direction. The method requires an estimation of the velocity at impact of the target vehicle. The potential inaccuracies associated with the method are not at all that different from these associated with other accepted methods of reconstruction. Alternate methods, based on different engineering models, should be used whenever possible to insure that all of the available data has been taken into account and that the results of the different methods are in agreement. A sensitivity study should be performed that will allow the engineer to apply an appropriate confidence interval to the reconstruction that reflects the results of the sensitivity study. (A)
Abstract