Vehicle crashworthiness in full and offset frontal impact tests

In the JNCAP, both full and offset frontal impact tests are performed. The crashworthiness and injury parameters in both tests were examined. Scores in both crash tests are strongly affected by chest and tibia injury criteria. Some cars score well on both tests, while others have poor scores in the offset impact tests because of the large intrusion into the passenger compartment. With the introduction of offset frontal impact tests, the stiffness of the passenger compartment has generally increased, but the force levels of the front structure have not always increased. (C) 2003 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. and Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.