Accuracy and sensitivity of CRASH

The accuracy and sensitivity of the CRASH computer program in computing delta-V are examined. Accuracy is related to how well CRASH performs in comparison with results from 53 independent staged collisions. With regard to accuracy, CRASH with one exception tends to underestimate delta-V at low values and tends to be accurate at high delta-V. The number of tests at high delta-V are small. The exception to this general result is the oblique side-impact collision in which delta-V tends to be overestimated when the direction of force is inclined more than approximately 45 degrees to the side surface normal. Typical errors estimated by available independent data indicate that the 95 percent confidence limits on individual calculations of delta-V ranges from approximately 9 to 25 percent.