Study on side impact test methods.

In order to contribute to the worldwide discussions aimed at an improvement of the existing side impact test method, Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI) and Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) are engaged in a research project designed to provide a more realistic and effective test method in view of international harmonization. The results of the full-scale tests by various research groups have shown that at least three problems exist: (1) only a small amount of information on the vehicle characteristics can be obtained from full-scale tests; (2) it is difficult to relate the results of full-scale tests to the modification of vehicle designs; (3) it is even more difficult to apply the results of full-scale tests to vehicle design in progress. To deal with these problems, JARI and JAMA have attempted to determine factors influencing the impact forces on vehicle occupants in lateral collision, and have investigated the possibilities of a method combining component test procedures with a mass-spring simulation model. In this paper, factors influencing the severity of impact on the occupant were investigated by combining a component test with a simulation technique, and the results obtained were compared with those of a full-scale test, using structurally modified and padding-added vehicles. It was found possible, by combining the component test and the simulation technique, to make a consistent prediction of the influences of vehicle specifiaction differences, to determine in detail the side impact behavior occurring in a full-scale test, and to use the calculated results for an improvement of vehicle design. In addition, an attempt was made to evaluate the feasibility of the CCMC-proposed composite test procedure (CTP) as an alternative to the full-scale test. The results indicated that there is a more or less satisfactory correlation between the CTP and a full-scale test, and suggested that the CTP could be substituted for the full-scale test if the remaining problems found are to be solved. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.