Goal

The purpose of this research program is to investigate the problems of vehicle aggressivity and compatibility in multi-vehicle crashes. The near term goal is to identify and demonstrate the extent of the problem of incompatible vehicles in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. The objective is to identify and characterize compatible vehicle designs with the expectation that improved vehicle compatibility will result in large reductions in crash related injuries. Specifically, this program seeks to identify those vehicle structural categories, vehicle models, or vehicle design characteristics which are aggressive based upon crash statistics and crash test data. Light truck and van collisions with cars are one specific, but growing, aspect of this larger problem.

Publications

High-Performance Computing Studies, DOT HS 812 404, April 2017

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) material is becoming one of the preferred solutions for vehicles to achieve overall weight reduction in order to meet fuel economy and emission standards while maintaining safety requirements.  Carbon fiber thermoplastic composites offer several advantages compared to metallic alternatives, including higher levels of ductility and specific energy absorption, rapid processing, and recyclability and reuse.  The objective of this study was to investigate the computational tools for the design, optimization and manufacture of carbon fiber thermoplastic materials for vehicle side frame structures (e.g., B-pillar) subjected to high-velocity side-impact crash loading, and to investigate and demonstrate the appropriateness of simulative methods and tools to adequately predict behavior relevant for the assessment of vehicle safety

Methodology for Evaluating Fleet Protection of New Vehicle Designs: Application to Lightweight Vehicle Designs DOT HS 812 051, August 2014[.ZIP file]

- Part 1: Final Report
- Part 2: Appendices
- Part 3: Peer Review

NHTSA’s Recent Test Program on Vehicle Compatibility,  Presented at 21st ESV, June 2009 Stuttgart, Germany

ACCURACY OF A HOF400 WITH A MOMENT-MEASURING LOAD CELL BARRIER, Presented at 22nd ESV, June 2011 Washington, D.C.

Investigation of Opportunities for Lightweight Vehicles Using Advanced Plastics and Composites  sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT HS 811 692, December 2012

NHTSA's Recent Test Program on Vehicle Compatibility Sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - , June 2011

Accuracy of a HOF400 With a Moment Measuring Load Cell Barriersponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - presented at the 22nd Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Conference. Washington, DC, June 2011

Crash Safety Assurance Strategies for Future Plastic and Composite Intensive Vehicles (PCIVs)
sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT-VNTSC-NHTSA-10-01, June2010

Frontal Compatibility Analysis With Option 2 LTV’s and Over Ride Barrier Design For SEAS Evaluation: Preliminary Analysis 
sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT HS 811 293, March 2010

A Safety Roadmap for Future Plastics and Composites Intensive Vehicles sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT HS 8110 863, November 2007 

NHTSA’s Recent  Vehicle Crash Test Program on Compatibility in Front-to-Front  Impacts  
Patel,S., Smith,D., Prasad, A.- U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Mohan, P. - FHWA/NHTSA National Crash Analysis Center,The George Washington University; presented at the 20th ESV Conference Proceedings, June 2007

NHTSA's Review of a Vehicle Compatibility Performance Metric Through Computer Simulation
Matthew Jerinsky, William T. Hollowell, 2003 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Washington, D.C., November 16-21, 2003.

NHTSA's Review of High-Resolution Load Cell Walls' Role in Designing for Compatibility
Matthew Jerinsky, William T. Hollowell, Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 393, Nagoya, Japan. May 2003.

NHTSA'S Research Program for Vehicle Compatibility
Stephen M. Summers, William T. Hollowell, , Aloke Prasad, Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 307, Nagoya, Japan. May 2003. 

Design Considerations for A Compatibility Test Procedure
Stephen Summers, William T. Hollowell, Aloke Prasad, Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 2002-02B-169. March 2002. supporting data for this paper available here

NHTSA's Research Program for Vehicle Aggressivity and Fleet Compatibility
Stephen Summers, Aloke Prasad, William T. Hollowell, Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 249, Amsterdam, Netherlands. June 2001.

A System's Modeling Methodology For Estimation of Harm in the Automotive Crash Environment
Alexandra C. Kuchar, Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 354, Amsterdam, Netherlands. June 2001.

NHTSA's Crashworthiness Modelling Activities
Stephen Summers, William T. Hollowell, Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 251, Amsterdam, Netherlands. June 2001.

NHTSA's Compatibility Research Program Update
Stephen Summers, Aloke Prasad, William T. Hollowell, Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 2001-01-1167 March 2001.

Vehicle Design versus Aggressivity
Hans C. Joksch, University of Michigan Transportation Institute, Report , DOT HS 809 194. April 2000.

NHTSA's Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility Research Program
Summers, S, Prasad, A, . and Hollowell, W.T., Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 1999-01-0071 March 1999.

Fatality Risk in Collisions Between Cars and Light Trucks
Hans C. Joksch, University of Michigan Transportation Institute, Report, September 1998.

NHTSA's Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility Research Program
Gabler, H.C and Hollowell, W.T. Proceedings of the Sixteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 98-S3-O-01, Windsor, Canada. June 1998.

The Aggressivity of Light Trucks and Vans in Traffic Crashes
Gabler, H.C. and Hollowell, W.T., Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 980908. February 1998.

Vehicle Aggressivity: Fleet Characterization Using Traffic Collision Data
Joksch, H., Massie, D., and Pichler, R., University of Michigan Transportation Institute, Report DOT HS 808 679 February 1998.

NHTSA's Vehicle Aggressivity and Compatibility Research Program
Hollowell, W.T. and Gabler, H.C, Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Paper No. 96-S4-O-01. Melbourne, Australia. May 1996.