Stephen Summers - Lincoln Navigator compatibility
2003 SAE Govt/Industry meeting


SLIDE 1:
LINCOLN NAVIGATOR COMPATIBILITY TEST SERIES


SLIDE 2:
TEST PROGRAM
- EVALUATE EFFECT OF NAVIGATOR REDESIGN ON CRASH PARTNER
  * full frontal engagement, both vehicles 30mph
  * 2003 and 1999, 4 door Lincoln Navigators

- 2 V-to-V TESTS WITH 1996 DODGE NEON
  * evaluate injuries and deformations in crash partner
  * did vehicle redesign affect safety in crash partner?

- 2 LCMDB-to-V TESTS
  * adjust LCMDB to match Neon weight
  * do load cell measures reflect the V-to-V tests?

- 2 VEHICLE TO BARRIER TESTS
  * conducted by Ford and MIRA


SLIDE 3:
STATUS
- V-to-V tests conducted in October
- High resolution barrier testing conducted in March
  * MIRA 50 by 50 mm load cell barrier
  * detailed analysis still underway
- LCMDB to vehicle tests underway
  * tests to be conducted this week or next


SLIDE 4:
PRE TEST ALIGHNMENT
[photos]
2003 navigator
 3027 kg / 1398 kg
 NHTSA test 4430

1999 Navigator
 2873 kg / 1378 kg
 NHTSA test 4429


SLIDE 5:
1999 NAVIGATOR
[video still - video exised]



SLIDE 6:
2003 NAVIGATOR
[video still - video exised]


SLIDE 7:
POST TEST
[photos]
2003 Navigator vs. 1999 Navigator


SLIDE 8:
[photo] 2003 Navigator post-test
[photo] 1999 Navigator post-test


SLIDE 9:
[photo] 1996 Neon struck by 2003 Navigator
[photo] 1996 Neon struck by 1999 Navigator


SLIDE 10:
NEON DRIVER INJURY CRITERIA
1999 NAVIGATOR
 - HIC15:  327
 - CHEST G: 64.5
 - CHEST DEFLECTION:  42.8 mm
 - MAX Nij:  0.37 (TE)
 - FEMUR:  10,094 (left)
 - TIBIA INDEX:  0.92 (upper left)

2003 NAVIGATOR	
 - HIC15:  735.6
 - CHEST G: 68.1
 - CHEST DEFLECTION:  27.9
 - MAX Nij:  0.40 (TE)
 - FEMUR:  1.33 (upper right)
 - TIBIA INDEX:  


SLIDE 11:
INTRUSION MEASUREMENTS
 - Toepan intrusion measurements were higher for the Neon struck by the 2003 Navigator <instrument panel intrusions were higher for the Neon struck by the 1999 Navigator>

 - Toepan intrusions were low for both Navigators <intrusions measured on 2003 Navigator were consistently lower>

SLIDE 12:
INTRUSION MEASUREMENTS
[bar chart - nonspecific values provided]
for:
 - left footrest
 - left toepan
 - center toepan
 - right toepan
 - brake pedal
 - left IP
 - right IP


SLIDE 13:
NAVIGATOR ACCELERATION
[acceleration pulse chart]
 - 1999 decelerated a little later


SLIDE 14:
NEON ACCELERATION DATA
[acceleration pulse chart]
 - Neon measurements were similar

SLIDE 15:
VEHICLE STIFFNESS

No frontal NCAP tests for Lincoln Navigator
 - several tests exist for Ford Expedition
 - 2003 Expedition is somewhat "stiffer" than previous models

2003 Expedition test conducted on low resolution barrier (MGA)
 - cannot compare average height of force


SLIDE 16:
FORCE DEFLECTION
[line chart]
force deflection from frontal NCAP Expedition tests

tests used for calculation
 1997 - test #2488
 1998 - test #2807
 2001 - test #3485
 2003 - test #3345


SLIDE 17:
NHTSA TEST PLANS
LCMDB-to-Vehicle tests underway
 - 214 MDB faces without bumper element
 - 30mph, both vehicles moving
 - to evaluate if the LCMDB can measure a difference in performance commensurate with the performance in V-to-V testing

New load cell wall being purchased
 - 125 by 125 mm resolution
 - delivery and preliminary testing expected by the end of summer


SLIDE 18:
FORD / MIRA LOAD CELL DATA
Crash tests were conducted at MIRA using their high resolution load cell wall

Software currently being finalized to evaluate compatibility metrics (AHOF, homeneeity, etc)


SLIDE 19:
LOAD CELL ANALYSIS SOFTWARE
Software available to evaluate NCAP load cell data from the NHTSA web site

- plots load contours, AHOF, etc
  * can save plots, avi's test data to local PC

- runs on local PC, downloadstest data from internet
  * requires MS Windows XP, 2000, ME or 98

- http://www-nard.nhtsa.dot.gov/software/load-cell-analysis
  * NHTSA.dot.gov -> Research -> R&D Software -> LoadcellAnalysis
  * Just released, feedback needed
  * 56k modem takes ~1 minute to load a test