Thatcham Crash Laboratory

Crash testing is a fundamental part of the Centre’s work and we have our own crash test laboratory.

The Current Test Programme –

• Insurance Group Rating tests
• The development of new bumper tests
• Seat testing and research into whiplash injury

Destructive Testing

Front, rear and side impacts can be achieved using our static or mobile barriers. We can also carry out car to static car impact tests. We can impact vehicles weighing up to 2.5 tonnes at any speed between 7.5 km/h and 72 km/h.

We have been impact testing vehicles since the late 1970s and we have built an enviable reputation for the quality and reliability of our data.

Non-Destructive Testing

Our Hyper G test sled enables the testing of components without having to destroy a vehicle. Currently, the sled is most in use for seat testing both to fulfill Thatcham’s test programme and by manufacturers to improve their own designs.

The sled emulates the effect of an impact and can be programmed to recreate the effects of different impact speeds and the energy absorbing characteristics of specific vehicles. Perhaps most importantly, these tests can be repeated to exact specifications.

Monitoring the Tests

To ensure that every millisecond of the test is thoroughly recorded and available for full evaluation, we have -

• On board data acquisition – up to 128 channels
• Hybrid lll 50th percentile dummies representing an average size male
• BioRID - Biofidelic Rear Impact Dummies
• High speed video – usually shooting at 1000 frames per second
• Motion analysis
• Digital photography