Citation

Andrews D, Limpert R. Accid. Reconstr. J. 2010; 20(5): 3p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article describes two semitrailer side underride crash tests, performed to examine how well the Injury and Crash Analysis (ICA) method predicts the impact speeds of these new crash tests. Although fortunately not a frequent occurrence, one of the worst accident scenarios occurs when an automobile strikes the side of a semitrailer. The underriding auto tends to engage the side of the trailer at the car's windshield level, resulting in extensive penetration of the passenger compartment and serious or fatal head trauma for the vehicle's occupants. The authors used a database of 34 underride tests to develop an equation that provides an estimated impact speed for the underriding vehicle. The database contains tests ranging in impact speed from 7pmh to 37mph. The authors discuss several factors that accident reconstructionists may want to consider, including angle of impact, crush pattern of the roof, crush area of the roof, deformation to the vehicle pillars and frame, the underhanging structures of the trailer, and post-crash movement of the underriding vehicle. The two tests reported in the article featured a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2-door coupe, which was driven at an angle of approximately 45 degrees against/under the left side of a stationary empty tractor semi-trailer with an impact speed of approximately 17mph; and a 1996 Saturn driven at 90 degrees into the same side of the trailer, with an impact speed of approximately 20mph. The authors conclude that the ICA formula used to evaluate these tests performed well, predicting the underriding vehicle's impact speed in both tests to within 1 mph.