Abstract: A crash-test protocol and rating guidelines for small-overlap frontal-crashworthiness, which
was released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in August 2012, is a challenge to China’s
enterprises intending to enter the US automotive market. Small-overlap frontal barrier crash tests on a real
vehicle in the authors' company were simulated and analyzed using the correlated FE model according to the
protocol and guidelines. The tests were conducted at 64.4 km/h and 25% overlap, with rating based on vehicle
structures, restraints and dummy kinematics, and dummy injury measures, and with the overall rating obtained
by weighting of each individual rating. The original results indicate that the structure rating is “Marginal”. After
optimizing the structure and material according to the original results, the structure obtains “Good” rating. Some
strategies for structure crashworthiness and restraints are summarized to offer references for new car safety.

Key words: car safety, small overlap frontal crashworthiness, vehicle structural rating, restraint, dummy, injury