Vehicle Damage Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real ACTAR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Vehicle Damage Analysis flashcards as text
In determining the principal direction of force (PDOF) for a collision, the analyst primarily examines:
Answer: The orientation and direction of structural crush and deformation relative to the vehicle's centerline
PDOF is determined by analyzing the direction and orientation of structural damage and deformation, which reveals the resultant force vector applied to the vehicle.
Which factor most significantly affects the accuracy of speed estimates derived from vehicle crush depth measurements?
Answer: The accuracy and availability of vehicle-specific stiffness coefficients (A and B values)
Crush-based speed estimates depend critically on accurate stiffness coefficients; using coefficients from a dissimilar vehicle can introduce substantial error.
A 'W' damage measurement pattern (W-crush profile) across the front of a vehicle most commonly indicates:
Answer: An offset impact where the vehicle struck a narrow object such as a pole or tree
A W-shaped crush profile with deeper deformation at the center flanked by less-crushed areas is characteristic of a narrow-object impact such as a pole, where the object concentrated force centrally.
Which document provides standardized nomenclature and codes for classifying vehicle collision damage for accident reconstruction purposes?
Answer: The National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) general estimates manual and SAE J224 standard
SAE J224 and the NASS coding manuals provide standardized terminology and coding schemes for documenting the type, extent, and location of vehicle collision damage.
When measuring crush on a vehicle with a non-planar pre-collision surface (e.g., curved front fascia), the crush measurement should be taken:
Answer: Perpendicular to the original undamaged surface profile at each measurement location
Crush is measured perpendicular to the original undamaged surface so that the measurement accurately reflects the depth of deformation caused by the impact.
Event data recorders (EDRs) can supplement vehicle damage analysis by providing:
Answer: Pre-crash vehicle speed, brake application, and delta-V data from the collision event
EDRs record pre-crash parameters such as speed, throttle, and brake status, plus collision delta-V, which can be compared against crush-based estimates for validation.
The 'damage width' used in CRASH energy calculations is defined as:
Answer: The lateral extent of the damaged zone measured parallel to the struck surface
Damage width (L) is measured along the surface of the struck vehicle, spanning the full lateral extent of the contact/damage zone.