07-01-2014

A crash test is a form of destructive testing

usually performed in order to ensure safe
design standards in crashworthiness and
crash compatibility for various modes of
transportation or related systems and
components.
Crashworthiness is the ability of a structure
to protect its occupants during an impact.

CRASH TEST

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Frontal-impact tests

Types of Crash test

Frontal-impact tests
Offset tests
Side-impact tests
Roll-over tests
Roadside hardware crash tests
Old versus new
Computer model

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These are usually impacts upon a solid

concrete wall at a specified speed, but can
also be vehicle-vehicle tests.

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Offset tests

Side-impact tests

Only part of the front of the car impacts with a

barrier (vehicle).
These are important, as impact forces
(approximately) remain the same as with a
frontal impact test, but a smaller fraction of the
car is required to absorb all of the force.

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These forms of accidents have a very

significant likelihood of fatality, as cars do not
have a significant crumple zone to absorb the
impact forces before an occupant is injured.

Roll-over tests

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Roadside hardware crash tests

which tests a car's ability (specifically the

pillars holding the roof) to support itself in a
dynamic impact.

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This type of tests are used to ensure crash

barriers and crash cushions will protect vehicle
occupants from roadside hazards.

To ensure that guard rails, sign posts, light

poles and similar appurtenances do not pose
an undue hazard to vehicle occupants.

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Old versus new

Computer model

Often an old and big car against a small and

new car, or two different generations of the
same car model.
These tests are performed to show the
advancements in crashworthiness.

Because of the cost of full-scale crash tests,

engineers often run many simulated crash
tests using computer models to refine their
vehicle or barrier designs before conducting
live tests.
LS-DYNA, MSC-Dytran, MADYMO

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Crash Test Dummies

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Dummies- instrumentation

(Anthropomorphic test devices (ATD)

The dummy's job is to simulate a human being

during a crash, while collecting data that would
not be possible to collect from a human
occupant.
A dummy is built from materials that mimic the
physiology of the human body. For example, it
has a spine made from alternating layers of
metal discs and rubber pads.

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Accelerometers
Load sensors
Motion sensors

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Accelerometers

These devices measure the acceleration in a

particular direction.
This data can be used to determine the probability of
injury.
Acceleration is the rate at which speed changes. For
example, if you bang your head into a brick wall, the
speed of your head changes very quickly.
If you bang your head into a pillow, the speed of your
head changes more slowly as the pillow crushes.
The crash-test dummy has accelerometers all over it.

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Load sensors

Inside the dummy's head, there is an

accelerometer that measures the acceleration
in all three directions (fore-aft, up-down, leftright).
There are also accelerometers in the chest,
pelvis, legs, feet and other parts of the body.

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Movement Sensors

Inside the dummy are load sensors that

measure the amount of force on different body
parts during a crash.

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These sensors are used in the dummy's

chest. They measure how much the
chest deflects during a crash.

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Crash Test Paint

Before the crash-test dummies are placed in
the vehicle, researchers apply paint to them.
Different colors of paint are applied to the
parts of the dummies' bodies most likely to hit
during a crash.
The dummy's knees, face and areas of the
skull are each painted with a different color.

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In the following photo, you can see that the

blue paint from the dummy's face is smeared
on the airbag and that his left knee (painted
red) hit the steering column.

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