The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: Air Bag Deployment

Gene K. Baxter (baxter@forensicgroup.com)
Fri, 12 Dec 1997 02:38:18 -0500 (EST)

Dan, your considerations may be even simpler than Ed states. I understand that
air bag sensors will trigger deployment at a Delta-V in the range of about 10
to 14 MPH for a frontal impact. Air bag deployment for an impact in any other
direction has very little benefit to the occupant. Therefore, if the van and
Honda were traveling at right angles to one another, then you only need to
consider the Delta-V to the Honda in its original direction of travel. Since
the weight of the Honda is about 2/3rds that of the Van, then, by conservation
of momentum, the Delta-V to the Honda would only be about 60% of its initial
velocity, or about 12 MPH. That may not be a sufficient Delta-V to cause the
Honda's air bag to deploy. Perhaps somebody else can provide you with the
deployment specifications for the Honda air bag sensor.
Gene K. Baxter
baxter@forensicgroup.com

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