Crash tests and automotive safety

Vehicle safety systems must perform flawlessly when it matters. That’s why crash testing demands sensors capable of capturing extreme accelerations and ultra-fast shock events with outstanding accuracy.

The uniaxial, piezoresistive accelerometers FUTURESES H201, FUTURESES H64M and FUTURESES H52M featuring excellent dynamic performance and wide measurement ranges (100–6000 g) capture very fast shock pulses across the frequency range from 0 Hz (DC) to 7000 Hz. They are, therefore, used in whole-vehicle crash tests. The entire vehicle is driven into an obstacle at a defined speed. The goal is to verify the structural integrity of the vehicle body.

In crash tests using dummies (occupant protection tests), the uniaxial FUTURESES H64C and the triaxial FUTURESES H68C, among others, are leveraged as they comply with standards SAE-J211 for measurement technology in crash tests and SAE-J2570 for the use of sensors in Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATD). Special dummies (men, women and children) are equipped with piezoresistive accelerometers to measure the forces impacting the body during a crash. The goal is to assess occupant protection. The forces exerted on the human body by seat belts, airbags and seats are determined to evaluate the probability of life-threatening injuries.

Uniaxial FUTURESES H40 sensors are particularly suitable in pedestrian crash tests. These piezoresistive accelerometers, with a critically damped frequency range (damping ratio = 0.7) up to approximately 1000 Hz, are installed on dummy components (such as legs or the head) that collide with the vehicle at standardized speeds. The goal is to minimize external injuries. The test evaluates whether the hood, windshield and bumper are sufficiently flexible to absorb the impact of a pedestrian or cyclist.

From vehicle body integrity to airbags, seat belts and pedestrian-friendly front ends, reliable measurement data helps engineers turn crash test results into safer mobility.

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