This paper briefly reports tests carried out under the HDV Virages programme with the aim at reducing the severity of head-on collisions between cars and lorries. The impact tests were carried out between an instrumented Renault R9 car with 2 dummies, and the simulated front part of the experimental HDV Virages, using a R310.19T tractor for purposes of comparison. The tests were run at 3 different speeds, and allowed evaluation of injuries to the head, using the Head Injury Criterion (HIC), the maximum thorax acceleration and the strain in the thighbone. A number of improvements to the experimental vehicle Virages resulted from these tests. For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.
Abstract