Crumple Zone
Purpose during a crash:
Crumple zones are typically located at the front and back of a car, but can also be found in other parts. Different mechanics use different designs and materials, which differentiates cheap cars from expensive ones. They are mostly constructed from steal or titanium, high density and low density polymeric foam, spaced reinforcing fibres, spaced mechanical ribs and reinforced metal inserts with notched sections for predetermined crumpling. These materials create a balance between impact resistance and too little impact resistance.
Crumple zones are typically located at the front and back of a car, but can also be found in other parts. Different mechanics use different designs and materials, which differentiates cheap cars from expensive ones. They are mostly constructed from steal or titanium, high density and low density polymeric foam, spaced reinforcing fibres, spaced mechanical ribs and reinforced metal inserts with notched sections for predetermined crumpling. These materials create a balance between impact resistance and too little impact resistance.
During a crash the crumple zone absorbs some of the energy of the impact, instead of the passenger. The crumple zone also increases the time taken for the vehicle to stop, which decreases the force applied to the passenger; Newton’s second law (force equals mass multiplied by acceleration) supports this.
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Physics:
Crumple zones are areas of vehicle that are designed to deform and crush during a collision to absorbs some of the energy from the impact, instead of passenger. They redistribute the forces, instead of most of the energy going into the passenger some of it is distributed to the crumple zone. By crumpling the time taken for the car to completely stop is increased, meaning a lower change in momentum. Therefore according to Newton’s Second Law smaller forces are acting upon the passenger.
Crumple zones are areas of vehicle that are designed to deform and crush during a collision to absorbs some of the energy from the impact, instead of passenger. They redistribute the forces, instead of most of the energy going into the passenger some of it is distributed to the crumple zone. By crumpling the time taken for the car to completely stop is increased, meaning a lower change in momentum. Therefore according to Newton’s Second Law smaller forces are acting upon the passenger.
Developments:
1953: Mercedes-Benz was credited with the first crumple zones being implemented in vehicles. An engineer, Béla Barényi had studied this problem for many years, his ideas were first presented in the Mercedes model series W 120.
1950s: The bodies of cars were ridged, resistant and didn’t deform very much during accidents and as a result the force was transferred to the passenger, which was dangerous.
1967: The Mercedes Heckflosse was the first car produced in the world with “crumple zone” safety features including a safety cage with crumple zones and a trunk that had been made almost 50% bigger, apposed to the previous cars that did not have the combination.
Modern cars: Modern crumple zones crumple more than the previous solid-bodied cars, however they are more affective because they absorb more of the energy. Modern cars are designed to absorb and redistribute force in a collision by bending in certain areas, collapse in on itself and have a honeycomb design which, offers stiffness in normal conditions, but can crumple in accident
1953: Mercedes-Benz was credited with the first crumple zones being implemented in vehicles. An engineer, Béla Barényi had studied this problem for many years, his ideas were first presented in the Mercedes model series W 120.
1950s: The bodies of cars were ridged, resistant and didn’t deform very much during accidents and as a result the force was transferred to the passenger, which was dangerous.
1967: The Mercedes Heckflosse was the first car produced in the world with “crumple zone” safety features including a safety cage with crumple zones and a trunk that had been made almost 50% bigger, apposed to the previous cars that did not have the combination.
Modern cars: Modern crumple zones crumple more than the previous solid-bodied cars, however they are more affective because they absorb more of the energy. Modern cars are designed to absorb and redistribute force in a collision by bending in certain areas, collapse in on itself and have a honeycomb design which, offers stiffness in normal conditions, but can crumple in accident