ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 July 1985
Page Count: 8

Engineering Aspect of Automobile Accident Reconstruction Using Computer Simulation
Vossoughi, J
Assistant to Dean, School of Engineering and Architecture, The Catholic University of America, DC

Chi, M
President, Chi Associates, Inc., VA

(Received 5 December 1983; accepted 22 October 1984)

Abstract

Using engineering principles including laws of conservation of energy and momentum, automobile accidents involving two or more cars can be reconstructed. The information obtained in a field investigation and the police report is used as input to a microcomputer. Execution of a program developed specifically for such purposes yields a sequence of events that must have taken place resulting in the accident. The program employs the post-impact information and pre-impact headings of the vehicles to determine the pre-impact velocities of the cars. Computer-aided investigation is of paramount interest to law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and trial lawyers.

Keywords:
engineering, automobiles, accidents, computers, automobile accident reconstruction, computer simulation, computer graphics, accident analysis, forensic engineering

Paper ID: JFS11014J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11014J
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