• Vehicle-to-Vehicle
• Vehicle-into Barrier Wall
• Moving Barrier-into-Vehicle
• Rollover Testing

• Vehicle-into-Roadside Safety Feature (NCHRP 350)

Facility Overview
Transportation Research Center's (the Center) Crash Test Facility includes the fixed barrier and vehicle-to-vehicle impact test areas.  Three (3) separate towing tracks (barrier, remote, and movable), with independent 1,000 horsepower electric motors guide and propel the test vehicles.   Each track may be operated independently or simultaneously with software designed to control the velocity of the vehicle to within +  0.5 mph.

The barrier crash area includes the barrier building and a 564-foot enclosed asphalt roadway leading into the building.  The area is designed for year-round operation and lighted for around-the-clock operation.  It provides for impact testing of vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds at velocities of up to 67 mph into a fixed barrier.  Heavier vehicles may be tested at lower impact velocities. 

The vehicle-to-vehicle impact area includes three tracks (barrier, remote, and moveable), which intersect over a photographic room that is part of an underground building.  Crash tests can be performed with two vehicles weighing 5,000 pounds each, at closing velocities of up to 127 mph.  Adjacent to the impact area is a 100-foot by 125-foot concrete pad used for the vehicle roll-out area. 

By utilizing the proper tracks, it is possible to perform an 8-degree to 172-degree side impact on either side of a vehicle with both vehicles moving.  Using the barrier and remote tracks, head-on and offset head-on impacts can be performed.  The unique feature of the system is the ability to have both vehicles traveling at different velocities.  This, combined with the side impact capabilities, make it feasible to simulate a variety of test conditions not previously possible.

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