Europe Test Crash of Ford Focus at 120 MPH

Focus Immediately Before Impact

The European TV show Fifth Gear had the Transportation Research Laboratory (TRL) crash a Ford Focus at 120 mph.

This staged crash test represents a worst case collision scenario where the car impacts a rigid, non-deformable, barrier.

After impact you will see the non-flammable Stoddard Test Fluid coming out of the fuel tank. The test fluid is put there to test fuel tank physical integrity.

Here is link to Fifth Gear Video: 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dI5ewOmHPQ

Here are calculations associated with 40 mph and 120 mph collisions. The 120 mph collision has 9 times the energy of a 40 mph collision.

Note that with this equation the energy goes up with the square of the speed, which means that there is 4 times as much energy at 40 mph than 20 mph (40×40= 1600 and 20×20=400).

You can clearly notice that your car takes a lot longer to stop from 60 or 70 mph than from 40 mph because of the square the speed energy issue. To simplify the calculation some more, if you square 60 = 3600 and the square of 40 = 1600 so there is more than twice the energy at 60 than 40.

With 10 the square is 100 and 15 the square is 225. Auto crash testing is typically conducted at speeds up to 40 mph (40×40=1600). There is 16 times as much energy at 40 than 10.

Remember to drive safely. The reality associated with the math applies every time you get behind the wheel.

Forensic Engineering – An Introduction

Sedan Rear Impact

For the past 23 years I have provided consulting services to corporations, insurance companies and attorneys with primary focus on vehicle technology and product liability with additional activites involving vehicle black box analysis and accident reconstruction.  Along the way I have looked at all sorts of transportation related product failures and accidents with regard to issues such as product liability and been an expert witness in approximately 1,000 depositions and 100 trials.  20 years ago no one could spell Forensic and now it is on the TV. … Continue Reading