Compatibility between sports-utility vehicles and sedan-type vehicles

Abstract

The authors point out that the rate of fatalities for occupants of sedans is higher than that for occupants of sports-utility vehicles (SUVs) for collisions between vehicles of equal weight from the analysis of traffic accident data in Japan. Precise 1:10 scale model vehicles are used for crash test experiments. In the case of a collision with a flat barrier, the compartment force of the sedan is mainly supported by lower structures. Conversely, for collisions with an SUV-type barrier, the compartment force of the sedan is supported by the door-beltline structures. New diagrams are proposed to indicate these differences in compartment force. It can be concluded that the results of the above-mentioned traffic accident data are attributed to the input force transferred the path along the door-beltline in the passenger compartment.

Keywords:

• compatibility
• crashworthiness
• accident analysis
• scale model
• SUV
• body structure

Notes

∗Including occupant dummies and restraint systems.