Crashtests, trials and tests
Center for Experimentation and Road Safety MAPFRE
Controlled speed crash test
One of CESVIMAP’s particular activities is the performance of crash tests. Motor vehicles, passenger cars, industrial vehicles and motorcycles are subjected to different standardised tests, most of them following the RCAR (Reseach Council for Automobile Repair) standards. RCAR, of which CESVIMAP is a member, brings together the most important automobile research centres at world level.
The vehicles are subjected to front and rear crash tests. These and other tests produce very significant data with regard to the vehicles’ repairability. The information obtained allows us to prepare very detailed reports where different models are compared through experimentation in the CESVIMAP facilities.
Front crash test
The front crash test simulates the impact of a vehicle, at a moderate speed, to its front part. The impact occurs at a speed of between 15 and 16 kph, to 40% of the front left section, crashing into an impact-resistant 35-ton concrete block, (turned 10º anticlockwise from the vehicle’s longitudinal axis).
Skoda Fabia front crash test (mp4, 21 Mb)
Rear crash test
The rear test reproduces the effect that an impact would have on the rear part of the vehicle, at a moderate speed. A mobile barrier crashes against the vehicle under study at a speed of between 15 and 16 kph, affecting 40% of its rear right part, with the vehicle turned 10% anticlockwise from its longitudinal axis.
Bumper test
Today the majority of vehicles are fitted with a series of parts which are designed to minimise damage in minor crashes. However, the lack of uniformity of these designs reduces their effectiveness. To encourage manufacturers to unify and optimise these designs and reduce repair costs for minor knocks, CESVIMAP, within the framework of RCAR, has designed a test, called “Bumper test” which consists of an impact, at low speed (10 kph) in which the effectiveness of the impact absorbing crossbars in front and rear collisions is evaluated.
This tests enables, thus, valuation of the effectiveness of the design of each model and the results are applied directly to the premium for the auto insurance.
Motorcycle crash test
