Citation

Almqvist R. Int. J. Veh. Des. 1982; 4(2): 103-112.

Affiliation

Volvo Automotive Safety Center, Goteborg, Sweden

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, Inderscience Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Volvo's safety design philosophy - to design a safe car for the real traffic environment - is described in detail starting with Volvo's traffic accident investigations as one of the most important inputs to safety characteristics specified for a new Volvo car. How the safety characteristics are transformed to measurable properties for the complete car in the laboratory environment is then explained and exemplified. The integrated specification is further broken down to system and subsystem specifications suitable and understandable to the designer at the drawing table. The design follow-up procedure, including crashworthiness design review meetings and at the end certification tests and production control tests is discussed. How this safety design philosphy is implemented in the design of a new Volvo car is then described step by step, and exemplified by different designs and the test results. The use of dummies (human form models) in design and crash testing is described, including tests of safety belt systems.