The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: Estimating barrier equiv for low speed collisions

Tom Persing (lab@airmail.net)
Mon, 26 Feb 1996 09:48:44 -0500 (EST)

I know of some organizations that have done some test crashes but I don't think they have found a good correlation of residual crush to impact speed. The foam is too resilient. This leave the best we can do being an upper end limit.

Unfortunately some "reputable" reconstructionists are begining with the assumption that the max delta V without damage is 2.5 mph based upon the FMVSS 2.5 mph bumper requirement. Tons of invalid assumptions here not the least of which is published test data that show NO DAMAGE with other vehicle impacts in the 15 mph range. And a 15 mph rear impact esp without good head restraints is outside the window of voluntary subjects.

The end in this is that "no damage" no longer automatically means "no injuries". About the only way to mitigate an opinion on injury potential is to do detailed biomechanic work (ATB program) and have some IIHS 5 mph barrier tests of both the rear and front bumpers. (Maybe someday I'll get a client who wants to front the expense of bumping two exemplar cars and collecting all the impact data!)

Tom Persing
lab@airmail.net

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