This paper examines the dynamic displacement-crushing force and dynamic displacement-absorbed energy behaviour of eight cars in full width barrier, 45% overlap rigid barrier and 30 degree angled barrier tests at 56, 50 and 56 kph respectively. The study shows that the frontal crush behaviour of these cars can be divided into three regions or zones of constant force.These zones are associated with crushing of the front structure as far as the engine, the engine and rear front structure and the occupant compartment. The highest average crushing force is associated with crushing of the engine and rear front structure with lower average crushing forces required for the extreme front of the car and for the occupant compartment. It is hypothesised that the energy absorbed-dynamic displacement behaviour in the full width barrier test represents the energy absorbed-mean displacement for all other crush configurations. This hypothesis is combined with the geometric crushing model for the car front to calculate the responses in the 45% overlap and the 30 degree angled barrier tests for one of the cars. A high degree of correlation is obtained. Further evaluation is needed to verify the hypothesis. (A)
Abstract