ABSTRACT
It will be shown that any crash event, modeled by either a single-mass or a multi-mass system, involves impact and/or excitation. Recognizing the existence of the impact and/or excitation, the closed-form formulas derived in Section 4.11 of Chapter 4 can be utilized to solve problems. Case studies, such as the dynamic principles of pyrotechnic pretensioner on the occupant responses, are investigated. The preloading effect of a restraint system on the occupant response and ridedown efficiency are discussed. Many crashworthiness topics related to single and multi-vehicle collisions are analyzed by the engineering principles presented so far for determining the degree of crash severity. Applications of these principles to vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility, shear loading of truck body mounts due to eccentric loading, and the methodology of accident reconstruction methodology are also presented.
