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

2009-01-0008

Fire Occurrence in Side Crashes Based on NASS/CDS Kennerly H. Digges Motor Vehicle Fire Research Institute

MVFRI

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Data Sources

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

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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

• ccupant compartment

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A Major Fire in NASS

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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

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Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction

FARS 2001-2005

Frontal 47% Rollover 28% Side 11% Other 5% Rear 9%

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Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction

FARS 2001-2005

Frontal 47% Rollover 28% Side 11% Other 5% Rear 9%

Break-out rollover according to initial harmful event

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Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction

FARS 2001-2005

47% 9% 5% 11% 14% 5% 5% 4% 28% Front Rear Other Side Roll Front-Roll Side-Roll Pure Roll Other

Rollovers Rollovers

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Distribution of Fatalities with Fire MHV by Crash Direction

FARS 2001-2005

47% 9% 5% 11% 14% 5% 5% 4% 28% Front Rear Other Side Roll Front-Roll Side-Roll Pure Roll Other

Rollovers

About 30% of Side Fatals are involve Rollovers

Rollovers

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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

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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

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Distribution of Major Fires - Side Impacts Vehicles <10 Years Old by Fire Origin

0% 20% 40% 60% Fuel Tank Engine Compart Other Location Instrument Panel Unknown Origin of Fire Distributions % Unweigted Weighted

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Fuel Tank Location in Major Fires – Side Impacts Vehicles <10 Years Old

0% 20% 40% 60% Front- Centered Front- Left Front- Right Back- Centered Back- Right Unk. Tank Location Distributions % Unweigted Weighted

Tank location relative to rear axle

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1st Object Contacted - Major Fires in Side Crashes– Vehicles Less than 10 Years Old

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Narrow Obj Vehicle Wide Obj Roll Object Contacted Distributions % Unweigted Weighted

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CDC Extent of Damage

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 2-3 4 5 6+ Unk CDCExtent of Damage D is t r ib u t io n s % Unweigted Weighted

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2 3 4 5 6 Major Fires in Side Crashes– Vehicles Less than 10 Years Old

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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

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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

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Side Crashes with Fires and Fatalities

Fire Origin Objects Contacted Damage Comments Engine Compartment Narrow Object Severe Impact near front wheels Fuel tank Narrow Object Severe Hydroplaned; Impact at

• ccupant compartment

Fuel tank Narrow Object Severe Impact at occupant compartment Fuel tank Narrow Object Severe Barrier sideswipe+ pole impact Fuel tank Roll + Vehicle + ¼ Roll Very Severe Occupant compartment impact Fuel tank 1 Vehicle + 2 Narrow Objects Severe Impact near rear fuel tank Fuel tank Traffic Barrier/Light Pole + Rollover Moderate Rollover followed impact Fuel tank Impact Attenuator + Rollover Moderate Fuel system damage during rollover

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0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Rate of Death in NASS MAIS 3 MAIS 4 MAIS 5 MAIS 6 Injury Severity (AIS) 25 Yrs 50 Yrs 75 Yrs

MAIS Rate of Death for 3 Age Groups

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Definitions

CDC – Extent of Damage CDC 5 ~ ½ vehicle width CMAIS – Max AIS from crash injuries

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2 3 4 5 6

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Side Impact with Engine Compartment Fire – Narrow Object Impact

Case 1998 49 95 CDC-4 Damage Profile CMAIS - 3

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Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires

1997 9 20; CDC 5 2004 45 219; CDC 5 Narrow Object Impacts Sideswipe + Narrow Object 2003 82 501; Sideswipe CMAIS - 4 CMAIS -3 CMAIS - 3

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Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires

2006 41 65; CDC 5 1 vehicle impact + 2 narrow impacts Impact near rear fuel tank CMAIS - 4

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Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires

2003 8 227: CDC 7 Rollover + Vehicle front-to-side impact + ¼ Rollover Driver would probably have died from crash injuries CMAIS - 5

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Side Impacts with Fuel Tank Fires

2000 49 134; CDC Unk. 2006 82 68; CDC Unk. Side Impacts Followed by Rollovers CMAIS -4 CMAIS - 3

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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

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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

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Conclusions – Fire Origin

Fuel Tank- 40% unweighted; 41% weighted Engine Comp- 40% unweighted; 54% weighted

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Conclusions – Side Impact Fires

Narrow objects are most frequently impacted – 60% (weighted data) Most side impacts with major fire incur damage

• f CDC 4+

Entrapment rate was:

 32% unweighted  35% weighted

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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)

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

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Damage Patterns where Fuel Leakage Occurred

Frequency that damage occurs in a given location From Paper SAE 2006-01- 0789 by G. Bahouth

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The End

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Questions?