Samenvatting
Side-impact tests by a moving deformable barrier with a foam plastic loading device were carried out using Japanese compact passenger cars with either, normal or reinforced side structure. Measured total energy consumed during impact was analyzed in terms of the energy consumption process including the kinetic energy of the car and the absorbed energy both by the side structure and by the loading device. A quasi-static structural test was conducted using the same loading devices and passenger cars as those in the side-impact tests. The aim was to evaluate the absorbed energies. The effect of side structure reinforcement on energy consumption in each process is also discussed. (A)