Test procedures for vehicle compatibility evaluation

Abstract Test procedures to assess vehicle compatibility were investigated based on a series of crash tests. The structural interaction and compartment strength are significant for compatibility, and fullwidth tests and overload tests have been proposed to assess these key factors. Full-width rigid and deformable barrier tests were compared with respect to force distributions, structural deformation and dummy responses. In full-width deformable tests, forces from structures can be clearly shown in barrier force distributions. The AHOFs determined in full rigid and deformable barrier tests were similar. To investigate the compartment strength, the results of five overload tests at 80 km/h were examined. The rebound force is proposed for compartment strength criterion, and this criterion has a correlation with the intrusion into the passenger compartment in car-to-car crash tests. The rebound force in overload tests is also close to that in ODB 64 km/h tests. Full-width tests and ODB 64 km/ h tests (or 80 km/h) are useful for compatibility performance evaluation.