Crash test
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A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in Crash compatibility for automobiles or related components.
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[edit] Types of Crash Tests
- Frontal-Impact Tests, which is what most people initially think of when asked about a crash test. These are usually impacts upon a solid concrete wall at a specified speed, but can also be vehicle-vehicle tests. 4WD's have been singled out in these tests for a while, due to the high ride-height that they often have.
- Offset Tests, in which 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. These also have the ability to turn a car into oncoming traffic in a real life situation. In the U.S., this type of testing is done by the IIHS.
- Side-Impact Tests: these forms of accidents have a very significant likelihood of fatality, as cars don't have a significant crumple zone to absorb the impact forces before an occupant is injured.
- Roll-over Tests which tests a car's ability (specifically the pillars holding the roof) to support itself in a dynamic impact.
- The Moose test has been used in Sweden for decades to test how a certain vehicle, usually an automobile, acts when avoiding a sudden danger, such as a moose.
[edit] Data Collection
Crash tests are conducted under rigorous scientific and safety standards. Each crash test is very expensive so the maximum amount of data must be extracted from each test. Usually, this requires the use of high-speed data-acquisition, at least 1 tri-axial accelerometer and a crash test dummy, but often includes more.
Some organizations that conducts crash tests include Consumers Union for the magazine Consumer Reports, and Monash University department of Civil Engineering, which routinely conducts crash tests for the purposes of roadside barrier safety and design.
[edit] Consumer responds to Crash Tests
- in 1998, the Rover 100 received a one-star Adult Occupant Rating in EuroNCAP crash tests; sales promtly collapsed and the 18 year old design was quickly scrapped.
- In 2005 the Holden Barina made news in Europe and Australia by scoring a lowly 2 stars in its crash test, resulting in lower sales and highlighting the influence of vehicle crashworthiness on a model's success in the marketplace. The result, and decision by Holden to release the vehicle into the Australian market, resulted in a considerable amount of negative publicity, with the Managing Director of Holden forced to publicly defend his product [1]
- The second generation Isuzu Trooper (1995-1997) models were rated "Not Acceptable" by Consumer Reports for their tendency to roll over during testing. After the report Trooper sales never recovered and two years later production ceased.
- Early A-Class production cars (W168) caused a single-vehicle accident under real world avoidance maneuvering ( Moose test). After public response Mercedes-Benz immediately started a number of improvements before sales were affected by this test result, including one of the first applications of Electronic Stability Control
[edit] Crash Testing Programs
There are a number of crash test programs around the world dedicated to providing consumers with a source of comparitative information in relation to the safety performance of new and used vehicles. Examples of new car crash test programs include ANCAP, EuroNCAP and JapNCAP. Programs such as the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 provide consumers information on the safety performance of vehicles based on real world crash data.
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
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