DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER SIMULATION PROGRAM FOR COLLINEAR CAR/CAR AND CAR/BARRIER COLLISIONS

Abstract

THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW VEHICLE COLLISION SIMULATION PROGRAM CAPABLE OF ANALYZING COLLINEAR CAR/CAR AND CAR/FIXED RIGID BARRIER COLLISIONS IN WHICH EACH CAR MAY BE REPRESENTED BY A LUMPED-PARAMETER CONFIGURATION INVOLVING UP TO 4 MASSES AND 35 NONLINEAR SPRINGS (I.E., ENERGY ABSORBERS). USER INSTRUCTIONS: SPECIAL OPTIONS AND FEATURES; AND SALIENT RESULTS OF APPROXIMATELY 14 DEMONSTRATION RUNS; ARE PRESENTED IN THE BODY OF THE REPORT. SUGGESTIONS FOR USER FAMILIARIZATION AND FURTHER PROGRAM GROWTH AND EXPANSION ARE ALSO GIVEN. /NTIS/