The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -Article-


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This is a solution to the "Speed Estimate from Crush" question. These methods can be found in numerous publications including NUTI Topic Book #870 "Work, Energy and Speed from Damage in Traffic Accidents", SAE Paper #910119 "Stiffness Parameters for Vehicle Collision Analysis from Crash Test(s) for Crash Data" and in the SLAM Technical Manual.

The information offered in the original problem that was utilized in this analysis is repeated below:

Approach #1

The first method has been around as long as the CRASH computer program:

 

Approach #2

The second method calls for the determination of crush coefficients, which will be used in quantifying Kinetic Energy dissipation.

Both approaches agree yielding speed estimates of 50 M/H. It appears that the rule of thumb estimate of 54 M/H was also a fair estimate.

The problem statement conditions of a stopped bus, no rebound and a final velocity of 0 M/H renders this case as a rare example where closing speed, Delta V and Eqivalent Barrier Speed all have the same value.


J. F. (Jim) Mitchell is an independent accident reconstructionist, author (International Guide Book for Traffic Accident Reconstruction) and computer software programmer who resides in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Jim retired from the Canadian Military Police in 1990 after 25 years service and then put in three years as an accident reconstructionist with the Special Investigations Unit of the Attorney General of Ontario. Jim has been ACTAR certified since 1994. He can be reached at jfmitch@sympatico.ca.
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