Further development of the RED method to vehicle structural performance: assessment of crash compatibility

An objective method for measuring compatibility is a prerequisite for improving crash performance and to further advance occupant safety in car–to–car collisions, but no suitable procedure has been developed to date. To date, based on car–to–car crashes, it is possible to conclude which pairs of cars are compatible, but it is not possible to quantify and compare the compatibility of one pair of cars to another. This study presents a further development of the Relative Equivalent Energy Displacement (RED) method to assess vehicle crash compatibility. The compatibility rating quantifies how the crash response of a car in barrier test differs from its crash response in a corresponding car–to–car crash configuration with another car assessed in a same test. It was shown that the method can be used even in the development phase of a vehicle crash structure.