Front Crush Stiffness Coefficients for Crossover and Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 09-09-02-0009

Crush stiffness coefficients applicable to vehicle classes allow the accident reconstructionist to bound crash severity in cases where specific vehicle data may not be available. The reliability of generic crush coefficients depends on accurate descriptions of vehicle classes. In the past, sport utility vehicles have been separated into classes that were based on wheelbase or alternatively combined in a single vehicle class. However, with the ubiquity and increasing popularity of crossover sport utility vehicles (CUVs) over the last decade, the need has arisen for a more specific and accurate classification of these vehicles. The present study seeks to distinguish applicable vehicle data for CUVs from standard sport utility vehicles (SUVs). In this study, crash test data for 95 CUVs and 39 standard SUVs produced between 2010 and 2020 were analyzed to calculate frontal crush stiffness coefficients. The results showed a significant difference for “A” crush coefficients, vehicle weights, vehicle width, and wheelbase when comparing CUVs and standard SUVs. The results of the present study provide generic vehicle data for separate classifications of CUVs and standard SUVs for utilization in the field of accident reconstruction.