Validation of a side–impact test procedure using a mobile deformable barrier

After reviewing the frequency and severity of later–impact accidents, the injury mechanisms of this kind of impact are described. The decisive factor is the large relative motion between the deformed side structure and the undeformed vehicle structure, in other words the rate of intrusion. To better study this phenomenon, a side–impact standard test has been proposed by the European Experimental Vehicles Committee: the test vehicle is struck perpendicularly at 50 km/h by a mobile deformable barrier whose characteristics are derived from 21 vehicle tests against a dynamometric wall. The front face of this mobile barrier is rigid polyurethane foam. This mobile deformable barrier sustained several validation tests as follows: foam block tests, tests against a dynamometric wall and barrier–to–car side–impact tests whose results are compared to car–to–car test results. In conclusion, though the validation must be continued, this mobile deformable barrier is very promising and is a valuable device in the study of the interaction between passengers and the indoor side structures of struck vehicles during side–impact accidents.