Estimation of the collision speed in a collision of a motorcycle or scooter with a car from individual vehicle deformation

Abstract

It has been demonstrated in previous research that the collision closing speed in a collision of a motorcycle or scooter with a car can be estimated on the basis of the residual crushing damage shared between the two vehicles, using an energy-derived relationship between the residual crushing damage and the collision closing speed. This paper reviews the original research and develops two further models that allow independent estimates of the collision closing speed to be calculated on the basis of either the residual deformation to the motorcycle or the residual deformation to the car. The models are validated from further crash test data taken from the literature. The principal results of the analyses are presented in the form of two predictive equations, together with the associated uncertainty that arises from the nature of the various constructions and stiffnesses of the vehicles within the population fleet. Comparison is made with other analyses in the literature. Further consideration is given to deviations from the mean estimate for subsets of the fleet population, taking into account the fact that the sides of cars have portions of various stiffnesses and that the mean stiffness of the sides of cars differed historically from those of modern models. Correction factors are presented which allows for a refined prediction based on the vehicle age and the car impact location.