Computer Aids for Accident Investigation 760776

Correlation of injury with the nature and severity of the acceleration exposure in actual highway accidents is complicated by problems with uniformity in the interpretation of accident evidence. The SMAC and CRASH computer programs have been developed with the objective of providing aids for interpretation of physical evidence. Through the use of such aids in accident studies, it is possible to establish injury thresholds and mechanisms for living humans in relatively detailed exposures and under different conditions of restraint and protection. In addition to providing refined measures of the performance of protective devices, such studies can provide an improved basis for evaluation of test devices (i.e., anthropomorphic dummies and other surrogate crash victims).

The existing forms and the evidence requirements of the SMAC and CRASH programs are described and results of pilot application studies are presented and discussed. The operating costs of the two programs are defined, and the anticipated future courses of development and application are outlined.