Crash Pulse Scaling Applied to Accident Reconstruction

<div class="htmlview paragraph">A crash pulse representative of the accident event is often requested in addition to the reconstructed speed, <i>deltaV</i>, and PDOF. One approach to crash pulse generation is to scale available test data to the accident condition.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Scaling formulas for time and acceleration are derived based upon commonly available accident reconstruction information from the crush profiles, closing speed, and vehicle <i>deltaV</i>. Scaling is based upon the compression phase of the crash pulse.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">A crash test similar to the accident may not be readily available unless a crash test is performed that is designed to represent a specific accident. Available test results may not reproduce the accident but may approximate it in several important aspects. In such situations it is necessary to scale a reconstructed crash pulse from the most representative test available based upon the test parameters and the reconstruction estimates.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Selected NHTSA tests are compared one with another after scaling in order to illustrate both the potential and limitations of scaling crash pulses.</div>