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Car Crash

Luke BurrageLuke Burrage
edited February 2009 in Everything Else
I found this interesting time line on this page. I thought I'd share it here. I love the last line.
All over in the blink of an eye

This is a reconstruction of a crash involving a stationary Ford Falcon XT sedan being struck in the driver's door by another vehicle travelling at 50 km/h.

One millisecond equals 1/1000th of a second.

0 milliseconds - An external object touches the driver's door.

1 ms - The car's door pressure sensor detects a pressure wave.

2 ms - An acceleration sensor in the C-pillar behind the rear door also detects a crash event.

2.5 ms - A sensor in the car's centre detects crash vibrations.

5 ms - Car's crash computer checks for insignificant crash events, such as a shopping trolley impact or incidental contact. It is still working out the severity of the crash. Door intrusion structure begins to absorb energy.

6.5 ms - Door pressure sensor registers peak pressures.

7 ms - Crash computer confirms a serious crash and calculates its actions.

8 ms - Computer sends a "fire" signal to side airbag. Meanwhile, B-pillar begins to crumple inwards and energy begins to transfer into cross-car load path beneath the occupant.

8.5 ms - Side airbag system fires.

15 ms - Roof begins to absorb part of the impact. Airbag bursts through seat foam and begins to fill.

17 ms - Cross-car load path and structure under rear seat reach maximum load.
Airbag covers occupant's chest and begins to push the shoulder away from impact zone.

20 ms - Door and B-pillar begin to push on front seat. Airbag begins to push occupant's chest away from the impact.

27 ms - Impact velocity has halved from 50 km/h to 23.5 km/h. A "pusher block" in the seat moves occupant's pelvis away from impact zone. Airbag starts controlled deflation.

30 ms - The Falcon has absorbed all crash energy. Airbag remains in place. For a brief moment, occupant experiences maximum force equal to 12 times the force of gravity.

45 ms - Occupant and airbag move together with deforming side structure.

50 ms - Crash computer unlocks car's doors. Passenger safety cell begins to rebound, pushing doors away from occupant.

70 ms - Airbag continues to deflate. Occupant moves back towards middle of car.
Engineers classify crash as "complete".

150-300 ms - Occupant becomes aware of collision.

Comments

  • Victor FrostVictor Frost
    That is so beautiful you have no idea.
  • SailSail
    edited February 2009
    This kind of technology is why humans are greater than gods.
    Post edited by Sail on
  • Kate MonsterKate Monster
    This kind of technology is why humans are greater than gods.
    But less than cars. ^_~
  • SailSail
    This kind of technology is why humans are greater than gods.
    But less than cars. ^_~
    Haha, touche'.
  • WalkerWalker
    This is better than poetry.
  • Kate MonsterKate Monster
    This is better than poetry.
    Better than poetry? I doubt that. It is akin to poetry.
  • WalkerWalker
    This is better than poetry.
    Better than poetry? I doubt that. It is akin to poetry.
    I knew someone (probably you ^_^) would say something along these lines right after I posted it. I didn't think it was quite dumb enough to bother changing it at the time, though looking back I probably should have just done this:
    This is better than poetry porn.
  • DkongDkong
    For a brief moment, occupant experiences maximum force equal to 12 times the force of gravity.
    What the fuck? Isn't that ridiculously unsafe? Or is it no big deal since it's only a few milliseconds?
  • WindUpBirdWindUpBird
    For a brief moment, occupant experiences maximum force equal to 12 times the force of gravity.
    What the fuck? Isn't that ridiculously unsafe? Or is it no big deal since it's only a few milliseconds?
    If sustained, you'd black out or take serious damage, but the human body can absorb shit tons of horizontal Gs without any harm; I believe 17G is considered the maximum, as long as the blow forces your body backwards.
  • StarfoxStarfox
    For a brief moment, occupant experiences maximum force equal to 12 times the force of gravity.
    What the fuck? Isn't that ridiculously unsafe? Or is it no big deal since it's only a few milliseconds?
    It's a car crash. Of course it's ridiculously unsafe.
  • George PatchesGeorge Patches
    This is better than poetry.
    Better than poetry? I doubt that. It is akin to poetry.
    For us engineer-y types who don't give a fuck about literature, it is better than poetry...or porn at the very least.
    What the fuck? Isn't that ridiculously unsafe? Or is it no big deal since it's only a few milliseconds?
    12G is not "safe." It is an accident, it's going to hurt and probably leave a mark. The forces involved here are however much lower than they would be with no safety devices. You have to remember this is a side impact, there's not much time or distance to stop the offending vehicle. It's gonna hurt, you might get some bruised ribs or a strained neck, but you won't be dead which is very likely without such safety equipment.
  • Kate MonsterKate Monster
    This is better than poetry.
    Better than poetry? I doubt that. It is akin to poetry.
    I knew someone (probably you ^_^) would say something along these lines right after I posted it. I didn't think it was quite dumb enough to bother changing it at the time, though looking back I probably should have just done this:
    This is better thanpoetryporn.
    I am returning to school to be an High School English Teacher. I had to comment. Also, most things are better than porn. Heck, a conversation with HTMKSteve is better than porn, in my opinion. (Porn makes me queasy and uncomfortable.)
  • WalkerWalker
    edited March 2009
    I am returning to school to be an High School English Teacher. I had to comment. Also, most things are better than porn. Heck, a conversation with HTMKSteve is better than porn, in my opinion. (Porn makes me queasy and uncomfortable.)
    Well, I'm a guy in the throes of puberty, so calling something this simple better than looking at naked ladies is fairly high praise.

    But, ah, lets not let this become the Porn Thread.
    Post edited by Walker on
  • OmnutiaOmnutia
    edited March 2009
    Did we just invoke rule 34 on car crashes? This could go very wrong.
    Post edited by Omnutia on
  • Nine BoomerNine Boomer
    Did we just invoke rule 34 on car crashes? This could go very wrong.
    If you don't follow rule 34, you could crash your car!
  • WalkerWalker
    Did we just invoke rule 34 on car crashes? This could go very wrong.
    If you don't follow rule 34, you could crash your car!
    I was thinking more of a crash test car with a giant metal boner welded to the grill.
  • Victor FrostVictor Frost
    This is better than poetry.
    Better than poetry? I doubt that. It is akin to poetry.
    It's Poetry in Motion. *rimshot*
  • FunfetusFunfetus
    Did we just invoke rule 34 on car crashes? This could go very wrong.
    It kind of already has.
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