Showing papers by "Kennerly H. Digges published in 2004"

Research Programs in Crash-Induced Fire Safety

Abstract: The research reported in this paper is a follow-on to a five year research program conducted by General Motors in accordance with an administrative Settlement Agreement reached with the US Department of Transportation. This paper is the third in a series of technical papers intended to disseminate the results of the ongoing research [Digges 2003 and 2004]. This paper summarizes progress in several of the projects. A statistical analysis of FARS and NASS/CDS indicates that frontal collisions are the most common in both fatal and non-fatal crashes with fires. NASS/CDS indicates that most major and minor fires originate under the hood. Fire rates in FARS are higher in rollovers than in planar crashes, and most rollover fires in NASS/CDS originate under the hood. An experimental study of the fuel containment technology in rollover crashes found that some current vehicle models are designed to prevent fuel tank leakage in rollovers, even when the fuel lines and hoses are severed (one at a time). An experimental under hood fire suppression system was tested and showed promise. Conductivity measurements of various engine compartment fluids indicates that these fluids are not sufficiently conductive to cause an ignition risk by inducing arc-tracking in 42 volt electrical systems.

Improving the compatibility of vehicles and roadside safety hardware

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to 1) identify current and future vehicle characteristics that are potentially incompatible with existing roadside safety hardware, 2) assess opportunities for and barriers to improved compatibility, and 3) increase the vehicle and hardware manufacturer's awareness of compatibility problems. This report presents the study results in five chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction. In Chapter 2, real world crash data and case studies from the National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System and Fatality Analysis Reporting System databases are examined. In Chapter 3, vehicle characteristics and registrations are presented to identify changes in the vehicle fleet over the past ten years. Strategies to improve vehicle to roadside hardware compatibility are included in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 contains conclusions and suggestions for future research.

Using CIREN Data to Assess the Performance of the Second Generation of Air Bags

Abstract: The paper examines the data from the William Lehman Injury Research Center (WLIRC) that is a near census of crashes in the Miami-Dade region with occupants that appear to be severely injured. The WLIRC at the University of Miami has investigated more than 200 frontal crashes in which the occupants were protected by air bags. Because the WLIRC cases are a census of cases in the Miami-Dade County rescue area with suspected severe injuries, they may be used to rapidly identify benefits of second generation air bags. The database has no child fatalities due to the air bag. Four cases of 2nd generation air bags with good protection in drivers in crashes well above 35 mph, and for the 2nd generation air bags, unrestrained drivers appear to have better protection in a high-severity barrier-type crash than unrestrained passengers.