Do car manufacturers still carry out cadaver crash testing

[Gwagon111]

I was just wondering if cadaver crash testing serves any purpose these days, what with the march of technology and computer modelling and stuff.

[LukeSi]

They have the dummies which are filled with sensors,

[Gwagon111]

LukeSi said:

They have the dummies which are filled with sensors,

I'm fairly sure there was still some cadaver testing carried out in parallel with the dummy testing, as a control. I just wondered if they still do it.

[CDP]

I gather it was going on in Germany very recently. They have to ensure the dummies behave as expected otherwise they simply engineer cars that are safe for dummies.

[traffman]

They used to carry that out in the 50s didnt they?

Theres a video somewhere of a nutter that strapped himself to a jet powered seat and blasted himself down the rail track , then stopped the chair and had a look at his injuries, his brain pushed his eyes against there sockets and caused them to bleed the force of the sudden halt was so fierce.

[paulrussell]

I don't think they do as there is no need to. Dummies are tested to see if they're accurate by computers I belive.

traffman said:

They used to carry that out in the 50s didnt they?

Theres a video somewhere of a nutter that strapped himself to a jet powered seat and blasted himself down the rail track , then stopped the chair and had a look at his injuries, his brain pushed his eyes against there sockets and caused them to bleed the force of the sudden halt was so fierce.

Yep his name was John Strapp, here's his wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_John_Paul_Sta...

[CDP]

paulrussell said:

I don't think they do as there is no need to. Dummies are tested to see if they're accurate by computers I belive.

I don't think cadavers were recently strapped into the cars so much as used for comparative measurements on test rigs.

[The Wookie]

CDP said:

paulrussell said:

I don't think they do as there is no need to. Dummies are tested to see if they're accurate by computers I belive.

I don't think cadavers were recently strapped into the cars so much as used for comparative measurements on test rigs.

That's pretty much my understanding. When I was doing my Auto Eng masters we were shown a recent video of cadaver testing (bodies obviously sheathed to hide the person) where they placed a load of accelerometers in the brain and bashed the head against a solid object

[CDP]

Nobody would question the donation of bodies for medical research to save lives. This kind of work will have saved thousands.

[uncinqsix]

The Wookie said:

CDP said:

paulrussell said:

I don't think they do as there is no need to. Dummies are tested to see if they're accurate by computers I belive.

I don't think cadavers were recently strapped into the cars so much as used for comparative measurements on test rigs.

That's pretty much my understanding. When I was doing my Auto Eng masters we were shown a recent video of cadaver testing (bodies obviously sheathed to hide the person) where they placed a load of accelerometers in the brain and bashed the head against a solid object

^ That.

In the early days, they used pigs as well.

[freecar]

Why do people not google things before they ask?

http://videosift.com/video/Crash-Test-Corpses-Usin...

There you go, a video of a cadaver crash test done farily recently, don't worry, the corpse is covered by plastic or some such and it is not gruesome in any way shape or form, in fact you'd be hard pushed to know it was a cadaver were it not for the voice over.

Edit, this wasn't meant to appear rude, I'm just confused that if you had a question why you'd try the forum first. Sorry if it appears rude!

Edited by freecar on Wednesday 19th October 12:50

[u05je7]

If you want, read a book called "stiff". It depicts the contributions made through the use of cadavers in various aspects, not just car crashes. And yes, they are used in car crash tests.

A very interesting book. Still working out if I enjoyed it or not.

[J4CKO]

uncinqsix said:

The Wookie said:

CDP said:

paulrussell said:

I don't think they do as there is no need to. Dummies are tested to see if they're accurate by computers I belive.

I don't think cadavers were recently strapped into the cars so much as used for comparative measurements on test rigs.

That's pretty much my understanding. When I was doing my Auto Eng masters we were shown a recent video of cadaver testing (bodies obviously sheathed to hide the person) where they placed a load of accelerometers in the brain and bashed the head against a solid object

^ That.

In the early days, they used pigs as well.

Do they use them in favour of humans to simulate more accurately drivers of certain cars, perhaps spray them orange and stick some Ugg boots and big shades on them ?

[CDP]

J4CKO said:

uncinqsix said:

The Wookie said:

CDP said:

paulrussell said:

I don't think they do as there is no need to. Dummies are tested to see if they're accurate by computers I belive.

I don't think cadavers were recently strapped into the cars so much as used for comparative measurements on test rigs.

That's pretty much my understanding. When I was doing my Auto Eng masters we were shown a recent video of cadaver testing (bodies obviously sheathed to hide the person) where they placed a load of accelerometers in the brain and bashed the head against a solid object

^ That.

In the early days, they used pigs as well.

Do they use them in favour of humans to simulate more accurately drivers of certain cars, perhaps spray them orange and stick some Ugg boots and big shades on them ?

Like Nissan Micras and low specification VW Golfs?