Lesson 3: How does crush zone stiffness affect a vehicle’s crashworthiness?

Is a stiffer or softer frame better at protecting the occupants during a vehicle crash? That’s the question engineers who design the crumple zone of vehicles must answer. Can you determine the crush zone frame stiffness that best protects a vehicle’s occupants? Stiffen up your investigative skills and start this simulation.

Doing the science

1. Start the Car Crash Simulation.
2. Select the red car on the right side of the screen.
3. Select the "Soft" crush zone stiffness.
4. Select the "Short" crush zone length.
5. Select the "Crash Center" button at the bottom of the screen.
6. Select the "40 MPH" speed, and then select the "Crash It" button.
7. Note and record in Table 1 the average acceleration and crash duration for the crash.
8. Select the "Analysis Center" button at the bottom of the screen.
9. Select the "Measure" button. Select the green round target, then select the next green round target to measure the crush zone deformation. Record this information in Table 2.
10. Repeat measuring the intrusion for the other two targets (yellow and red). Record this information in Table 2.
11. Select the "Medical Report" button. Record this information in Table 3.
12. Select the "Design Center" button at the bottom of the screen.
13. Repeat steps 3–12, except choose the "Medium" frame stiffness.
14. Repeat steps 3–11, except choose the "Stiff" frame stiffness.