SAFETY Within the limitation offered by other design criteria, the designer should ensure maximum safety of the

driver, the passenger & other road uses. Thus the vehicle should not be designed to withstand safety collision with on obstacle or another vehicle at high speed but should be designed to reduce the effects of collision. Design of body for safety: The kinetic energy designed during collision may be expressed as E= (m-m) v2/2 Where m total mass of vehicle m movable mass (passenger or load etc.) v Velocity The above energy is absorbed by work done on material by elastic deformation. (i.e) (m-m)v2/2 = pds = (2/2E)AL Where p force generated during collision s distance travelled during collision local stress in material A cross sectioned area L deformation length in cm From above generated is inversely proportional to distance travelled in coming to rest and inversely proportional to youngs modulus of the material. So bumper and collision absorbing materials should be of light alloys aluminum and rubber.

Graph of deceleration of the passenger compartment as a function of time for a collision with stationary obstacles passenger car travelled at a speed of 50 km/hr. Deceleration measured in the passenger compartment of a normal car is usually large, even though only 20% of the maximum retardation is felt in the passenger compartment.

Fig shows the results of except to measure the value of retardation at the extreme points of a vehicle and the passenger compartment. When accident occurs between 2 vehicles, decelerations involved are less then when colliding with a solid obstacle. Fig shows this relation and clearly indicates the importance of the larger distance over within the force travel before the vehicles comes to rest.

Thus long energy absorbing distance should be provided in vehicle design and parts of the structure used for this purpose should have lower stiffness then central section or the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Fig indicates the deceleration generated during impact in the car of a collision between vehicles a solid wall.

Thus the response time of a human being doesnt allow him to prepare for an impact of short duration and thus safety belt must be used. For a side impact a designer may be able to improve the collision properties of the vehicle by choosing substantial side rails with some elasticity in the lateral direction especially on buses & commercial vehicles. To ensure passenger safety in a case of overturning, a stiff roof constriction most be used or if thus is not possible local reinforcement or antiroll bars may be used. Various safety features are: 1) The bumper design: The bumper should be designed to absorb more energy. Big shock absorbers may be used behind the bumper In some design semi-circular shape is adopted. This avoids direct collision and tilt of the vehicle. The height of the bumper should be such that if it hits the pedestrian below the knee he will fall on the vehicle hence less danger. 2) Ignition switch should be connected with door lock that ignition can be Switched on only when all four doors are perfectly locked. 3) Air bags & safety belts have to be used. 4) Herlomatic flash or horn (peep sound) for every 1m. If the driver doesnt put off, then ignition will be automatically switched off. 5) Use of collapsible or telescopic steering column. 6) Heat toughened or zone toughened glass have to be used.