6. Conclusions
Three full scale crash tests and three everyday activity tests were
performed to analyse and compare the reaction to human volunteer
subjects in terms of head and chest accelerations.
There was a strong correlation between bullet vehicle closing
speed and target vehicle speed change (delta-V) and a strong
positive correlation between target vehicle delta-V and occupant
movement which was in line with previous literature.
There was a strong positive correlation between target vehicle
delta-V and the disparity between the acceleration of the chest and
the acceleration of the head.
At lower speed changes the disparity was approximately zero
and less than that produced by the action of sitting into a chair.
The results supported the proposition of a 3 mph delta-V threshold
below which accelerations were similar to everyday activity.
The results supported the proposition of a “grey area” between
3 and 5 mph delta-V where the risk of injury is low but should not
be entirely ruled out.
Sample size from full scale testing at delta-V’s of below 5 mph
remains low and there is much scope for further investigation using
low speed collision testing and other everyday events that are considered
non-injurious.