Refine Your Search

Search Results

Author:
Technical Paper

Frontal, Lateral, and Free-Operation Impacts of Amusement Bumper Cars: Vehicle Kinematics and Occupant Kinematics

2018-04-03
2018-01-0543
This study conducted a series of rear-impact, side-impact, barrier, and free-operation collisions using a bumper car ride at an active amusement park. Two conditions were studied: staged and free operation. Each staged test included a bullet (impacting) vehicle operated by a rider and a target (impacted) static vehicle or structure. Impact configurations of frontal collisions of the bullet vehicle into the rear and side of a target vehicle were consistent with the existing literature. The free operation condition involved collisions which were not pre-determined, and operators may not have been prepared for collision timing, magnitude, and direction. Results demonstrated high repeatability for vehicle parameters, such as impact velocity, change in velocity, and peak acceleration.
X