Fire Occurrence in Side Crashes Based on NASS/CDS Kennerly H. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Fire Occurrence in Side Crashes Based on NASS/CDS Kennerly H. Digges Motor Vehicle Fire Research Institute MVFRI 2009-01-0008

Data Sources The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) years 1979 to 2005 The National Automotive Sampling System - Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS) 1997- 2006 2 2009-01-0008

Definitions FARS Fires – Any vehicle in the FARS file where there was both a fatality and a fire. FARS MHV (Most Harmful Event) Fires – The FARS cases where fire was the most harmful event that occurred to the vehicle. The MHV does not necessarily apply to the people in the vehicle. Therefore, one can not assume that the most harmful event for a vehicle was the cause of the death or injury for any specific individual within the vehicle. NASS Major Fire – Any NASS case where fire enters the occupant compartment 3 2009-01-0008

A Major Fire in NASS 4 2009-01-0008

Presentation Outline – Fires in Side Crashes n Overview of Fires in FARS  Side crashes relative to other crash modes n NASS/CDS Data on Side Crashes with Major Fires n Examination of Eight Cases in NASS where Fire may have contributed to the Fatality n Conclusions 5 2009-01-0008

Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction FARS 2001-2005 Other Rear Side 5% 9% 11% Rollover Frontal 28% 47% 6 2009-01-0008

Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction FARS 2001-2005 Other Rear Side 5% 9% 11% Break-out rollover according to initial harmful Rollover Frontal 28% event 47% 7 2009-01-0008

Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction FARS 2001-2005 5% 11% 9% 5% 5% 28% Rollovers 4% 14% Rollovers 47% Front Rear Other Side Roll Front-Roll Side-Roll Pure Roll Other 8 2009-01-0008

Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction FARS 2001-2005 About 30% of Side Fatals are 5% 11% involve Rollovers 9% 5% 5% 28% Rollovers 4% 14% Rollovers 47% Front Rear Other Side Roll Front-Roll Side-Roll Pure Roll Other 9 2009-01-0008

Presentation Outline – Fires in Side Crashes n Overview of Fires in FARS  Side crashes relative to other crash modes n NASS/CDS Data on Side Crashes with Major Fires n Examination of Eight Cases in NASS where Fire may have contributed to the Fatality n Conclusions 10 2009-01-0008

NASS/CDS Data on Frontal Crashes with Major Fires and Fires with Fatalities The National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS) 1997-2006 –  Vehicles less that 10 years old  34 vehicles with side impact and major fires  When weighted expands to 3,216 vehicles  Small numbers – requires comparison of weighted and unweighted data to confirm trends 11 2009-01-0008

Distribution of Major Fires - Side Impacts Vehicles <10 Years Old by Fire Origin 60% Distributions % 40% 20% 0% Fuel Tank Engine Other Instrument Unknown Compart Location Panel Origin of Fire Unweigted Weighted 12 2009-01-0008

Fuel Tank Location in Major Fires – Side Impacts Vehicles <10 Years Old 60% Distributions % 40% 20% 0% Front- Front- Front- Back- Back- Unk. Centered Left Right Centered Right Tank Location Tank location relative to rear axle Unweigted Weighted 13 2009-01-0008

1st Object Contacted - Major Fires in Side Crashes– Vehicles Less than 10 Years Old 80% Distributions % 60% 40% 20% 0% Narrow Obj Vehicle Wide Obj Roll Object Contacted Unweigted Weighted 14 2009-01-0008

CDC Extent of Damage 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 4 8 9 3 5 6 7 40% D is t r ib u t io n s % 30% 20% 10% 0% 2-3 4 5 6+ Unk CDCExtent of Damage Unweigted Weighted Major Fires in Side Crashes– Vehicles Less than 10 Years Old 15 2009-01-0008

Presentation Outline – Fires in Side Crashes n Overview of Fires in FARS  Side crashes relative to other crash modes n NASS/CDS Data on Side Crashes with Major Fires n Examination of Eight Cases in NASS where Fire may have contributed to the Fatality n Conclusions 16 2009-01-0008

Data Set Involving Fatalities  34 vehicles with major fires  19 with fatalities  8 with AIS 6 attributed to fire - and crash injuries as follows:  In most cases MAIS 3 or 4  One case MAIS 5  Injury assessment based on NASS coding  Damage coding based on side impact damage not rollovers 17 2009-01-0008

Side Crashes with Fires and Fatalities Fire Origin Objects Contacted Damage Comments Engine Compartment Narrow Object Severe Impact near front wheels Hydroplaned; Impact at Fuel tank Narrow Object Severe occupant compartment Impact at occupant Fuel tank Narrow Object Severe compartment Fuel tank Narrow Object Severe Barrier sideswipe+ pole impact Roll + Vehicle + ¼ Very Fuel tank Roll Severe Occupant compartment impact 1 Vehicle + Fuel tank 2 Narrow Objects Severe Impact near rear fuel tank Traffic Barrier/Light Fuel tank Pole + Rollover Moderate Rollover followed impact Impact Attenuator + Fuel system damage during Fuel tank Rollover Moderate rollover 18 2009-01-0008

MAIS Rate of Death for 3 Age Groups 100% 90% 80% Rate of Death in NASS 70% 60% 50% 25 Yrs 50 Yrs 40% 75 Yrs 30% 20% 10% 0% MAIS 3 MAIS 4 MAIS 5 MAIS 6 Injury Severity (AIS) 19 2009-01-0008

Definitions 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 4 8 9 3 5 6 7 CDC – Extent of Damage CDC 5 ~ ½ vehicle width CMAIS – Max AIS from crash injuries 20 2009-01-0008

Side Impact with Engine Compartment Fire – Narrow Object Impact CMAIS - 3 Case 1998 49 95 CDC-4 Damage Profile 21 2009-01-0008

Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires CMAIS - 4 CMAIS -3 1997 9 20; CDC 5 2004 45 219; CDC 5 Narrow Object Impacts CMAIS - 3 Sideswipe + Narrow Object 2003 82 501; Sideswipe 22 2009-01-0008

Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires CMAIS - 4 1 vehicle impact + 2 narrow impacts Impact near rear fuel tank 2006 41 65; CDC 5 23 2009-01-0008

Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires CMAIS - 5 2003 8 227: CDC 7 Rollover + Vehicle front-to-side impact + ¼ Rollover Driver would probably have died from crash injuries 24 2009-01-0008

Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires CMAIS -4 CMAIS - 3 2006 82 68; CDC Unk. 2000 49 134; CDC Unk. Side Impacts Followed by Rollovers 25 2009-01-0008

Presentation Outline – Fires in Side Crashes n Overview of Fires in FARS  Side crashes relative to other crash modes n NASS/CDS Data on Side Crashes with Major Fires n Examination of Eight Cases in NASS where Fire may have contributed to the Fatality n Conclusions 26 2009-01-0008

Conclusions Data from NASS/CDS 1997-2006 – Vehicles less than 10 years old; Side Impacts with Major Fires  34 vehicles  19 with fatalities  8 with fatalities possibly fire related  34 vehicles expand to 3,216 when weighted 27 2009-01-0008

Conclusions – Fire Origin Fuel Tank- 40% unweighted; 41% weighted Engine Comp- 40% unweighted; 54% weighted 28 2009-01-0008

Conclusions – Side Impact Fires Narrow objects are most frequently impacted – 60% (weighted data) Most side impacts with major fire incur damage of CDC 4+ Entrapment rate was:  32% unweighted  35% weighted 29 2009-01-0008

Conclusions – Fire Cases with Fatalities FROM FARS DATA: Side Impacts represent 16% of the fatalities with fire as MHE About 30% of these cases also involve rollovers FROM NASS DATA: Rollovers were observed in 3 of 8 NASS cases with fire related fatalities Side impacts without rollovers generally involve severe side damage; CDC 4+ (NASS) 30 2009-01-0008

Conclusions- Major Threats; Fires in Side Impacts Impacts with narrow objects with CDC 4 and above. Rollovers following the side impact. 31 2009-01-0008

Damage Patterns where Fuel Leakage Occurred Frequency that damage occurs in a given location From Paper SAE 2006-01- 0789 by G. Bahouth 32 2009-01-0008

The End 33 2009-01-0008

Questions? 34 2009-01-0008