Collision Investigations and Trial Partnering With Reconstruction - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Presenting a live 90-minute webinar with interactive Q&A Accident Reconstruction in Truck Collision Investigations and Trial Partnering With Reconstruction Experts to Maximize Case Value THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 1pm Eastern | 12pm Central | 11am Mountain | 10am Pacific Today’s faculty features: J.J. Burns, Esq., Dollar Burns & Becker, Kansas City, Mo. Thomas W. James, Attorney, Michigan Auto Law , Farmington Hills, Mich. Robert E. Larson, P .E., Senior Managing Engineer , Exponent , Phoenix The audio portion of the conference may be accessed via the telephone or by using your computer's speakers. Please refer to the instructions emailed to registrants for additional information. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 10 .

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Robert E. Larson, P.E. Senior Managing Engineer rlarson@exponent.com

What is Accident Reconstruction? • What do you need to know? – How fast were the vehicles going? – Why did the vehicle loose control? – Why did the vehicle tip over? – Why didn’t the driver avoid the collision? – Did the Driver or Vehicle or Terrain cause the accident? – Did the load cause the accident? – Should the driver have been able to control the vehicle or terrain condition? – Would a vehicle with Option X experienced the same accident? – … 6

What is Heavy Truck Accident Reconstruction? 7

Measurement Technology • Hand measurements • Total Station survey • Photogrammetry • 3D Scanning of site and vehicles 8

3D Scanning and Modelling 9

Old-School Photogrammetry 10

Event Data Recorder (EDR) • Heavy Truck Event Data Recorder (EDR) is a function of the Engine Control Module (ECM) • Engine dependent, not ‘vehicle’ dependent 11

Driver Monitoring • Camera on driver and driver’s view • Speed, steering and braking • Vehicle response (accelerometers, ‘G - force’) • Location (GPS) 12

Analysis Technology • Hand Calculations • Spreadsheet Calculations • Simulation • Testing 13

Safety Technology • Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) • Stability Control (ESC) • Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) 14

Commercial Vehicle ADAS 15 15

VORAD • Development of VORAD began in 1972, prototype in 1987, SAE paper in 1992 introducing the functionality • Introduced as Eaton VORAD in 1995 • Forward Collision Warning and Blind Spot Warning (side) • Two Radar sensors, one forward (350’), one side (10’) • Aftermarket system, requires careful alignment of the Radar sensors • Introduced Adaptive Cruise Control • Also included early version of an Event Data Recorder 16

Current Commercial Vehicle Systems 17 17

Forward Collision Warning - Moving Vehicles and Static Objects Adaptive Cruise Control (1/3 braking capability) Collision Imminent Braking (2/3 braking capability) 18

Autonomous Commercial Vehicles 20 20

Heavy Truck Accident Reconstruction Examples 21 21

Visibility - Pedestrians 22

Loss-of-Control - Rollover 23

Loss-of-Control Rollover 24

Loss-of-Control – Rollover Stability Calculations 25

Collision – EDR Data - Simulation 26

Heavy Truck Stability with a Trailing Axle Tire Blowout 27

Trailing Axle  FHWA Bridge Formula Weight Limit  Allowable Axle Weight is a function of  Length between Axles  Number of Axle 28

Background  Case Study Accident View Looking View Looking Downstream Upstream 29

Background  Case Study Accident View Looking View Looking Downstream Upstream 30

Background  Case Study Accident View Looking View Looking Downstream Upstream 31

Background  Case Study Accident View Looking View Looking Downstream Upstream 32

Testing  Purpose: Evaluate potential loss of control due to trailing axle tire air out  Test Conditions:  Baseline Tests – Straight ahead  Reduced Pressure  Zero Pressure  Zero Pressure at speed  Tire Blowout  Baseline Test - Aggressive Steer Input 33

Testing  Instrumentation:  Position and Velocity (GPS)  Acceleration and Angular Rates (IMU)  Steering Wheel Torque  Steering Wheel Angle  Trailing Axle Angle  Throttle Position Sensor  Photo Documentation:  Still Photographs  4 On-board cameras  1 Off-board camera 34

Baseline Straight Ahead  Baseline Straight Line Test Results  Steering Wheel Angle = +-20 Degrees  Steering Wheel Torque = +-2 ft-lbs  Tire Pressure Reduced to 10 psi  Results similar to baseline values  Low trailing axle tire pressure unapparent to driver 35

Tire Pressure Reduced to 0 psi 36

Tire Pressure 10 psi v. 0 psi Trailing Axle Angle Steering Wheel Angle Test 04 and 05 Comparison Test 04 and 05 Comparison 10 80 04 10 psi 04 10 psi Trailing Axle Road Wheel Angle (Deg) 05 Fully Deflated 05 Fully Deflated 8 60 Steering Wheel Angle (Deg) 6 40 4 20 2 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 -20 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 -2 -40 -4 -60 Time (s) Time (s) 37

Lowered axle with deflated tire at 35 mph Steering correction: 40 - 60 deg. 38

Simulated Blowout at 35 mph 39

Simulated Blowout at 35 mph Test 10 90 30 SWA (deg) 80+ deg. Steering Correction Trailing Axle Road Wheel Angle (deg) 75 25 TA RWA (deg) Steering Wheel Angle (Deg) 60 20 Full Lock Trailing Axle 45 15 30 10 15 5 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 -15 -5 -30 -10 Time (s) 40

Aggressive Left Steer Input at 35 mph 41

Comparison – 35 mph Trailing Axle Blow Out 30-deg Step Steer 30 deg. Steering 0.3+ g 80+ deg. Steering to regain lane 42

Conclusions  Deflating tire effects were not noticeable until tire was completely deflated  Driver may be unaware that a trailing axle tire is low until it is deflated.  Steering torque did not provide driver feedback.  Deflation of a trailing axle tire can cause a severe destabilizing effect to the vehicle  Generated tire forces near maximum capacity 11 feet behind rear axle  Large steering required to maintain lane position at 35 mph 43

SAE International Journal of Commercial Vehicles 2012-01-0238 http://papers.sae.org/2012-01-0238 44

Heavy Truck Accident Reconstruction  Wide variety of issues  Requires a wide variety of tools  Technology is continuously changing  How A/R is done  What data is available  What is expected of the vehicle http://www.exponent.com/robert_larson/ 45

J.J. Burns, Esq. Dollar Burns & Becker jjb@dollar-law.com

First Considerations: Is This a Reconstruction Case? • Timeline • Liability • Damages • Known Unknowns – Unknown Unknowns • Police Involvement – Resources • Other Relevant Factual & Legal Issues • Doubt =› Reconstruction • Options 47

Range of Reconstruction Options & Considerations • Data Preservation • Scene Photos & Basic Measurements • Vehicle Inspections • Downloads • Total Station • 3D Laser Scanning • Paint Samples • Light/Lamp Testing • Glass Shards • Exemplar Vehicles 48

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Communications with the Reconstructionist, Part I Legal Issues : • Work Product • Expert Disclosures • Standards • Testifying 51