The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: Rear end collisions followed by frontal

Ed Phillips (ephillpw@co.san-diego.ca.us)
Thu, 17 Apr 1997 10:42:10 -0400 (EDT)

I have been reviewing Severy's SAE paper "Backrest and Head Restraint Design for Rear-End Collision Protection" 680079. The researchers did a series of 12 rear-end collisions from speeds of 10 mph to 55 mph. They used stock and modified seat backs which ranged in strength from 9,100 in-lbs to 16,100 in-lbs at the point the measured. In ALL of the accelerometer traces the chest G's are less than the vehicle frame G's and the direction doesn't appear to change, nor does the chest-G curve outlast the seat deflection trace. There is seat deflection, and some rebound, but I don't see any evidence of this "slung shot" or "Catapaulting" effect which would cause the chest G's to exceed the frame rail G's. Is there some source that I can consult that indicates this effect is occuring? Are seats made today of such resilience that they generate this sling shot mechanic?
Ed Phillips
ephillpw@co.san-diego.ca.us

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