FIMCAR–Frontal Impact and Compatibility Assessment Research: How to Test Self and Partner Protection

AbstractFor the assessment of vehicle safety in frontal collisions, the crash compatibility between the colliding vehicles is crucial. Compatibility compromises both the self protection and the partner protection properties of vehicles. Although compatibility has received worldwide attention for many years, no final assessment approach has been defined. Within the FIMCAR project, different frontal impact test procedures are analysed regarding their potential for future frontal impact legislation. The research activities focus on car-to-car frontal impact accidents based on accident investigations involving newer cars. Test procedures were developed with both a crash test programme and numerical simulations. The proposal from FIMCAR is to use a full width test procedure with deformable element and compatibility metrics in combination with the current ECE R94 off-set procedure as a frontal impact assessment approach which also addresses compatibility