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The OLDMISS computer program is used to estimate the ▵V's of vehicles in a collision, when the damage to one of the vehicles is unknown. The program estimates the energy dissipated in the structure of the missing vehicle based on the knowledge of the generic structural characteristics of automobiles, and certain assumptions. OLDMISS has been found to be less accurate for certain impact configurations, especially side impacts. This paper examines the possible sources of errors in the OLDMISS algorithm. This paper also details an alternate algorithm for estimating the energy absorbed by the missing vehicle. This proposed method bypasses the need for estimating the damage profile on the missing vehicle. It also takes into account the presence of induced damage (for side impacts). The new algorithm is validated by reconstructing six vehicle-to-vehicle staged impacts, and twelve RICSAC tests.

CRASH (Calspan Reconstruction of Accident Speeds on the Highway) is one of the primary tools used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Dept. of Transportation, for estimating the severity of impacts. It is a computer program which is used to estimate the velocity change (ΔV) of the centers of gravity of vehicles in an accident. This paper studies the validity of the linear ΔV vs. crush relationship used in CRASH3 for modern passenger cars. It describes the experimental work done to investigate the crush-energy vs. static crush for a number of models in side impacts. Finally, the crush-energy vs. residual crush behavior for a large number of vehicle models tested for NHTSA has been characterized and tabulated.

This paper studies the validity of linear ΔV-crush relationship for modern passenger cars and describes the experimental work done to investigate the crush-energy vs. residual crush behavior for a number of vehicle models. It also discusses the repeated test technique (suggested by C. Warner et al.) in which the same vehicle is impacted repeatedly at lower speeds to yield multiple data-points for impact behavior at higher speeds. The technique is based on the assumption that the vehicle deforms under repeated impacts in a manner similar to that at a higher speed having the same impact energy. The validity of this technique and the results from staged crash tests for front and rear impacts are discussed. The work reported in this paper was executed under contract to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a part of their research.