The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Reduction of Passenger Vehicle Stiffness Coefficients...

Richard Bair (rb16742@xx.acs.appstate.edu)
Tue, 26 Mar 1996 18:57:05 -0500 (EST)

When a collision occurs between a typical passenger vehicle and a
massive industrial truck very often the frames of the vehicles do not
impact squarely. This feature is commonly referred to as bumper override.
In our local area this type of accident occurs regularly due to the fact
that many of the trucks are on the extended weight system and the geography
is mountainous thus causing a large velocity gradient and thus a higher
rate of overtaking that is passenger vehicles traveling at 55 60mph will
pass coal trucks traveling at 20 25mph on a 4 lane highway.
Obviouly the damage analysis will have to be revised because the
stiffness coefficients provided in most tables is taken by studying rigid
barrier collisions where the frame is impacted flushly. Thus a reduction
in the stiffness coefficients is called for. However the real question
is what coefficients to use. Can the typical stiffness coefficient data
simply be reduced by some percentage or are new test required to gather
accurate data?
If the typical data already in use can simply be reduced please
indicate the process for reduction including justification. If anyone
can suggest an accurate source with this type of information please point
me in that direction. If have spoken to a couple of experts in heavy truck
collisions via phone and everyone thus far seems to acknowledge the
problem but indicates that experience leads to proper reduction. I would
much rather rely on the physics of deformation then experience.

Thanks for your help.

Richard Bair
rb16742@xx.acs.appstate.edu

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