Abstract: A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model was built to simulate a real vehicle in small overlap
condition. The model was compared with test results before simulating 25% overlap front-impact. The structure
deformations of the vehicle body were analyzed and assessed according to small-overlap frontal-impact
assessments by the American Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The model in 25% overlap impact condition
was compared with the traditional 40% offset impact condition. Some suggestions were proposed to increase
the ability of absorbing collision energy, to improve the passenger compartment stiffness, and to modify the
shotgun structure. The results show that the body structure can obtains the score of “Acceptable” from the score
of “Poor”. Therefore, these optimizations can effectively strengthen the vehicle crashworthiness.

Key words: vehicle safety, small overlap frontal-impact, safety assessment, vehicle structure