Energy Concepts Brazil 08-21-12

AN INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY CONCEPTS IN
TRAFFIC CRASH
INVESTIGATION/RECONSTRUCTION
Presented for:
VIII National Seminar on Traffic Crash Accidents

Brasilia, Brasil
August 2012
Presented by:
John Daily
Jackson Hole Scientific Investigations, Inc.
Institute of Police Technology and Mangement
INTRODUCTION
Many crash investigators/reconstruction do not
use, or shy away from using energy methods in
their analyses.
Why?? Various reasons
We will discuss the value and necessity of using
energy methods in our crash investigations.
We will explore various ideas and concepts in
using energy methods in traffic crash
investigations.
Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily
WHY ENERGY METHODS?

Conservation of Linear Momentum (COLM) is
an excellent technique to use in analyzing
collisions.
However, there will be times when a
momentum solution is not available or not
appropriate.
Energy methods may provide a solution or open
other avenues to use in the analysis.
WHAT IS ENERGY?
Energy is defined as the

ability to do work.
FORMS OF ENERGY
Heat
Light
Sound
Electrical

Chemical
Nuclear
Mechanical

Kinetic
Potential
As crash investigators,
we are most interested in
Kinetic Energy.
ENERGY
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
1 2
Ke = mv
2
An object possesses kinetic energy by virtue of its

motion.
For an object to come to a stop all of its kinetic
energy must be dissipated.
WORK
Work is defined the dot product of a force acting
through a displacement.
In equation form:
W = F d
If a force is applied to an object but there is no
displacement, there is no work.
Notice the vector format for force and
displacement and the scalar format for work (the
dot product of two vectors).
WORK
There are two kinds of work:

Reversible work, such as compressing an elastic spring
Irreversible work, such as crushing a vehicle inelastically
In the same way, the force doing the work may be categorized:
Conservative, e.g. gravity
Non-conservative or dissipative, e.g. friction
It is important to note that the work done by a dissipative force
is path dependent.
W = F d ds
s
WORK (CONT.)
If the applied force is in the same direction as

the displacement vector then the work done is
simply product of the magnitude of the force F
and the distance d through which the object
moves.
W = Fd
F
d
WORK (CONT.)
However, if the applied force is not in the same direction

as the displacement vector, then the work done is the
product of the magnitude of the force, F cos , in the
direction of the displacement and the distance d
through which the object moves.
W = (F cos ) d
F cos
d
10
WORK AND ENERGY

Work Energy Theorem

The
work done by a force in displacing an object is

equal to the change in kinetic energy of the object.
W = Ke
1 2 1 2
= mv f mvi
2
2
1
= m v 2f vi2
2
)
11
WORK AND ENERGY (CONT.)

The applied force that appears in the work
equation is the unbalanced force that is referred to
in the definition of Newtons First Law of Motion.
If the force moves the object (causes
displacement) it will cause the object to have a
change in kinetic energy equal to the amount of
work accomplished in moving the object.
Now that the object possesses kinetic energy, it
has the ability to perform work.
Thus the Work-Energy Theorem.
12
ENERGY
First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It is only transferred

from one form to another.
Kinetic energy from a moving vehicle can be transformed

into other forms, primarily heat, in various ways.
Braking

Engine
Service brakes
Collisions
For an object to come to a stop, all of its kinetic energy must

be dissipated.
If even an iota of kinetic energy remains, the object will still
be moving.
13
DISSIPATING KINETIC ENERGY

Skidding
W = Fd
= mgfd
F
f =
mg
fmg = F
F = fmg
Where: W = work
F = resistive force due to friction, N
f = drag factor
m = mass of the vehicle, kg
d = distance of the skid, m
g= gravitational acceleration, 9.81 M/sec2
14
DISSIPATING KINETIC ENERGY (CONT.)

Collision
Breaking/damaging
objects
Attenuators
Poles
Guard
Damage
rails, etc.
energy
To
the bullet vehicle

To the target vehicle
15
DISSIPATING KINETIC ENERGY (CONT.)

Post impact movement

Slide to a stop
Spinning during translation to final position
Work = fwd
eta =
0.80
10.28
16.21
21.58
S=
39.16
f_overall =
0.50
f_ref =
0.70
eta =
0.71
fadj = fr + ( - fr)|sin avg| + m

1998 Ford Taurus
Interval
d (ft)
1
2
3
20.20
19.41
24.54
i+1
0
27
56.5
avg
27
56.5
87
13.5
41.75
71.75
fr
0.70
0.70
0.70
sin
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.233
0.666
0.950
fadj
-0.035
-0.035
-0.035
S (mph)
0.174
0.451
0.633
18.30
87
109
98
0.70
0.06
0.990
-0.035
0.659
19.02
19.72
102.17
109
134
121.5
0.70
0.06
0.853
-0.035
0.571
18.37
mph
Rotational kinetic energy, spinning more or less in one place

rather than translating
1
KE =
I 2
16
ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

Bridge abutment
Crash attenuators
Skid
Example 1
17
ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

Determining speed at the start of the skid in
Example 1 is not a momentum problem.
Can be solved using energy techniques.
Determine all the major energy losses.
Add the energy losses together to get energy
at the start of the skid.
Determine speed at the start of the skid from
the total energy.
18

Four energy losses in Example 1.

1.
2.
3.
4.
Skid to impact.
Crushing/destroying crash attenuators.
Post impact movement to final position.
Damage (crush) sustained by the vehicle.
19

2
1
Skid
Example 1
4
20

weight of vehicle, w = 1364 kg (13,377N)
1.
w = mgfd
= 13,377(0.70)15.24
= 142,706 J
2. 52,240 J
(e.g. from specs)
52,240 J
d 15.24 m
f = 0.70
3
3. w = mgfd
= 13,377(0.40)25
= 133,770 J
d = 25 m
f = 0.40
4. 284,760 J
4
284,760 J
(from damage analysis)

21

Calculate the total energy at the start of the

skid by adding the individual energies together.
ET = E1 + E2 + E3 + E4
= 142,706 + 52,240 + 133,770 + 284,760
= 613,476 J
22

Now can calculate speed at the start of the skid

from the total energy value.
S=
26 Ke
m
26(613,476 )
1364
15,950376
1364
= 11,693.8
= 108km / h
23

Example 2 Consider an
impact with a wooden pole
where the pole breaks.
The impact event can have
four energy losses
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pole fracture energy

Pole stump movement in
the ground
Damage to the vehicle
Post impact movement of
the vehicle
Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J.

Daily
24
ANALOGY

Energy can be thought of like money.

The quantity of money that a person had
at the start of a shopping trip can be
determined by adding all the receipts
together.
By determining each energy
expenditures and adding up all the
energy receipts, the total energy at the
start of the event can be determined, and
subsequently the speed at the start of
the event.
25
ANALOGY (CONT.)
Thinking of kinetic energy dissipation as

individual expenditures can help the
investigator answer the question should I take
that impact into account or can I ignore it?
26
WHAT ABOUT SPEED EQUATIONS?

Basic speed equation:
S = 254df
Its an energy equation!
27
WHAT ABOUT SPEED EQUATIONS?

The basic
Kinetic Energy = Work
speed
1
mv = Fd
equation
2
comes from
1
mv = (mgf )d
2
the workv
= fd
energy
2g
theorem.
v = 2 gfd
Continue to convert to speed:
v = 2 gfd
v = 2 gfd
Velocity in fundamental units
v = 2(9.81) fd
v = 19.62 fd
v=
S
3 .6
S
= 19.62 fd
3 .6
S = 3.6 19.62 fd
S = 3.6 2 (19.62) fd
S = 254 fd
28
WHAT ABOUT SPEED EQUATIONS? (CONT.)

Combined speed equation:

S12 + S 22 + S 33 + K + S n2
S=
or
S = 254( f1d1 + f 2 d 2 + f 3 d 3 + K + f n d n ) + S 2f
The speeds in these equations are Kinetic Energy Equivalent (KEES)
speeds because each represents a discreet kinetic energy change.
These are energy equations!
29

For multiple surfaces with an event at the end:
KEinitial = (W1 + W2 + W3 + K + Wn ) + KE final
mS 2f
mS o2
= ( f1mgd1 + f 2 mgd 2 + f 3 mgd 3 + K + f n mgd n ) +
25.92
25.92
S 2f
S o2
= ( f1 gd1 + f 2 gd 2 + f 3 gd 3 + K + f n gd n ) +
25.92
25.92
S o2 = 25.92(9.81)( f1d1 + f 2 d 2 + f 3 d 3 + K + f n d n ) + S 2f
S o = 254( f1d1 + f 2 d 2 + f 3 d 3 + K + f n d n ) + S 2f
30

If we continue with the last equation:

S o = 254( f1d1 + f 2 d 2 + f 3d 3 + K + f n d n ) + S 2f
S o = 254 f1d1 + 254 f 2 d 2 + 254 f 3d 3 + K + 254 f n d n + S 2f
So =
S12 + S 22 + S32 + K + S n2
Generic equation for

multiple events ( S 2f is
just another event so it
is encompassed by S n2 ).
31

Thus:
Speed
equations come from energy (the WorkEnergy Theorem).

We add energies and combine speeds.
KEinitial = (W1 + W2 + W3 + K Wn ) + KE final
S = S12 + S 22 + S33 + K + S n2
32
WHAT ELSE CAN ENERGY ANALYSES BE USED FOR?

Calculating impact speeds in an inline

(collinear) collision.
The
Conservation of Linear Momentum (COLM) and

Conservation of Energy (COE) equations are solved
simultaneously.
33

(CONT.)
Calculating the speed of a vehicle that collides
with a barrier and comes to a stop.
Damage energy is used to calculate the speed.
If the barrier doesnt move and doesnt sustain
damage, the speed calculated will be both a deltaV and an impact speed.
If the barrier moves or sustains damage or if there
is any post impact movement of the vehicle, the
speed calculated will be an EBS (Equivalent
Barrier Speed).
34

(CONT.)
Calculating delta-Vs
2 1 Ecrush
v1 =
1m1
m1 1 +
2 m2
m1
v2 =
v1
m2
Where: Ecrush = E1 + E2 (damage energy of Unit 1 plus the damage energy of Unit 2), J
m1 = mass of Unit 1, kg
m2 = mass of Unit 2, kg
= effective mass ratio
35
SOME DEFINITIONS
Damage Energy is based on the assumption the vehicle deforms according

to Hookes Law.
36
SOME DEFINITIONS
In the previous slide, A & B are the Stiffness

Coefficients of the damaged vehicle
The
A stiffness value represents the force the

vehicle can sustain without manifesting residual
crush.
The B coefficient is the slope of the force-deflection
line. 2
A
G =
2B
37
SOME DEFINITIONS
What is , the effective mass ratio?

Gamma is a ratio of the acceleration of the vehicle

center of mass to the acceleration at the centroid
of the damage area.
k2
= 2 2
k +h
k = radius of gyration
h = lever arm from collision (impulse) force line to CM
38
SOME DEFINITIONS
The area of the force-deflection triangle

represents the work done to crush the vehicle.
Because
damage areas are irregular in most cases,

a series of triangles, all with the same stiffness
values, are summed up across the width of the
damage on the vehicle.
E = (1 + tan ) ( A + Bx)dxdL
2
39
BASIC DAMAGE ENERGY EQUATION
A2
2
E = A + B x AD +
1 + tan
2B
Where: E
A, B
AD
x
(1+tan2)
= total damage energy; irreversible work done to crush vehicle

= stiffness coefficients
= area of damage
= depth of the damage centroid from the damage face
= angle the collision force makes with respect to a
line perpendicular to the damage face.
= Magnification factor
40
WHAT IS NEEDED TO CALCULATE DAMAGE ENERGY?

Four things are needed to calculate damage

energy:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Stiffness coefficients
Area of damage
Depth of the damage centroid from the damage
face
The angle the collision force makes with respect
to a line normal (perpendicular) to the damage
face.
41
DAMAGE ENERGY
Determining damage energy allows us to:

Calculate
the amount of kinetic energy/work

expended to crush the car.
From the damage energy the EBS or delta-V can be
determined.
Will allow progression to further analysis.
Delta-V
Impact
speeds via a simultaneous equation solution
42
DETERMINING STIFFNESS COEFFICIENTS

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/database/veh/veh.htm
Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J.

Daily
43
DETERMINING STIFFNESS COEFFICIENTS (CONT)

Commercial software packages
44
45
46
DETERMINING DAMAGE AREA

Use scale diagram and geometric shapes.
Measure damage area using Tumbas and
Smith protocol, SAE 880072.
47
DETERMINING DAMAGE AREA
48
DETERMINING DEPTH OF CENTROID OF DAMAGE AREA

The centroid is the center of a volume or a two
dimensional area defined by a boundary.
Can be determined:
By
scale diagram and software package,

Paper cutouts,
Calculations.
49
DETERMINING ANGLE OF COLLISION FORCE WITH

RESPECT TO A LINE NORMAL TO DAMAGE FACE
Equations and measurements are based on
NHTSA crash tests where the vehicles crash
perpendicularly into barriers.
If the collision force is not perpendicular to the
damage face, a geometric/trigonometric
adjustment needs to be made to take into
account the angle.
This adjustment is called the magnification
factor.
2
(1+ tan )
50
CONCLUSION
Understanding energy concepts and energy
analysis techniques puts more tools in the
crash investigator/reconstructionists tool box.
By looking at the movements of vehicles from
an energy point of view helps clarify many
issues and questions.
Utilizing energy analysis techniques can assist
the investigator in solving crashes that may
have previously gone unsolved.
51

Energy Concepts Brazil 08-21-12

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AN INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY CONCEPTS IN

VIII National Seminar on Traffic Crash Accidents

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

WHY ENERGY METHODS?

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

Energy is defined as the

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

An object possesses kinetic energy by virtue of its

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

There are two kinds of work:

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

If the applied force is in the same direction as

However, if the applied force is not in the same direction

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

WORK AND ENERGY

Work Energy Theorem

work done by a force in displacing an object is

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

WORK AND ENERGY (CONT.)

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It is only transferred

Kinetic energy from a moving vehicle can be transformed

For an object to come to a stop, all of its kinetic energy must

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

DISSIPATING KINETIC ENERGY

DISSIPATING KINETIC ENERGY (CONT.)

the bullet vehicle

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

DISSIPATING KINETIC ENERGY (CONT.)

Post impact movement

Spinning during translation to final position

fadj = fr + ( - fr)|sin avg| + m

Rotational kinetic energy, spinning more or less in one place

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

Four energy losses in Example 1.

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

(from damage analysis)

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

Calculate the total energy at the start of the

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

Now can calculate speed at the start of the skid

ENERGY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES (CONT.)

Pole fracture energy

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J.

Energy can be thought of like money.

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

Thinking of kinetic energy dissipation as

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

WHAT ABOUT SPEED EQUATIONS?

Basic speed equation:

Its an energy equation!

Copyright 2010 - 2012 by N. Shigemura & J. Daily

WHAT ABOUT SPEED EQUATIONS?