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HIGHLIGHTING THE PROBLEM
What is underride?
Soc., Jud. & Pol. Asp.:
  • Stupid Paradox...
  • Basic Dilemma
  • How does justice...
  • Basic reasons...
  • It is possible...
  • Essential things...

  • Technical Aspects:
  • Passive safety...
  • Traps for humans
  • Estimating forces
  • The "wedge effect"
  • Ground clearance
  • High guards...
  • Opposing reasons

  • Worldwide Problem:
  • Existing standards 
  • Roving guillotines:

  • Argentina, Brazil, Chile, England, France, Germany, USA
  • Accident pictures
  • WHAT ARE WE DOING?
    Objective & Strategy
    Designs & Tests:
  • Articulated Guard
  • Pliers Guard
  • CRASH TEST #1
  • CRASH TEST #2
  • CRASH TEST #3

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    CRASH TEST #4

    Underride Guard with energy absorption capability


    TEST CONDITIONS:
  • Closing speed: 64 km/h or 40 m.p.h. 
  • Contact surface: 50% offset impact on driver's side.
  • Frontal car height reduced to simulate panic braking
  • Car: Chevrolet Vectra (mass = 1,490 kg)
  • Truck: Mercedes-Benz 1215C (mass = 10,000 kg)
  • GUARD FEATURES: 
  • Height from the Ground:  400 mm ( 15.75 inches) 
  • Mounted flush wiht the rear end of the truck bed

  • Guard designed by M. Sc. Eng. Carlos Rezende de Menezes (Ph.D. student at UNICAMP) and constructed by OURO FINO Auto Parts.

    Tested at the experimental facilities of GENERAL MOTORS DO BRAZIL in Indaiatuba - Brazil, which also donated the Vectra Car and the time and skills of their engineers.

    Click on the pictures to enlarge them

    Rear view of the truck with the underride guard before the crash test.
    Relative heights of the car front bumper and the underride guard. Ground clearance = 400 mm (15.75 inches).
    Relative position of both vehicles after the test. Windshield not touched!
    Internal view of the car showing no deformation on the instruments panel.
    Deformed front structure of the car after the test.