Abstract:

The side crash accident between SUV (sport utility vehicle) and minivan leads to serious injury
for passengers in the impacted car. The authors explored the compatibility between minivan and a SUV
using simulation method. The compatibility between minivan and SUV was undesirability as found in premier
simulation. Single variable principle was used to explore influence factors for side impact compatibility. And
multi-group simulated analyses were carried out by changing the mass ratio between two vehicles, the lateral
stiffness of target vehicle, and the geometric structure, respectively. The results show that the two-vehicle mass
ratio has the most effect on the B pillar maximum intrusion velocity at waist line; the side stiffness has the most
influence on the B pillar intrusion displacement; and the geometric structure has the most impact on the target
vehicle door maximum intrusion displacement.

Key words: vehicle safety, minivan, sport utility vehicle (SUV), side impact, crash compatibility