Cybertruck Crash Test Predictions

[Jhodgesatmb]

But before the crash got to the dummy the Bel Aire does pretty well. If it had had both the strong chassis/body and the modern features would it not have protected the occupant? Of course we want safety above all else but we want to protect the vehicle from incidental damage and vandalism. Can we have both?

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[Crissa]

Of course we want safety above all else but we want to protect the vehicle from incidental damage and vandalism. Can we have both?

That's irrelevant. Crumple zones have nothing to do with incidental damage and vandalism.

-Crissa

 

[Cyber_Starship]

I've been wondering how the Cybertruck's unique front end design will be engineered to crumple at high speeds.

In low speed collisions I imagine just the shorter hood area will crumple. The Cybertruck's front end is similar in length to ICE pickups, but the A-pillar encompasses where the back half of the hood would normally be. I'm curious if this area can be used to lengthen the deceleration time for high speed collisions and house additional structure for the small overlap. I believe the frunk runs under this area. The downside is this would result in intrusion into the frontal dashboard area, so the airbags or some restraint system would need to prevent limbs from reaching this area. Maybe they'll have a subframe, firewall, crossmember, a-pillar reinforcement, or thicker exoskeleton to separate the safety cell from this area and prevent intrusion into the passenger space.

Here's my simple depiction:

(low speed)

(high speed)

I'm not a structural or crash safety engineer so I could be completely wrong.

 

[Cyberman]

Hey all,

I'm new here and happy to be apart of the Cybertruck "future" owners club.

I've been thinking a lot about how the Cybertruck will do in crash tests. With Tesla having the safest vehicles on the road, I'm hopeful that the Cybertruck will be even safer. Just a few things come to mind with the Cybertruck specifically. With a thick steel exoskeleton, how will the car have any crumple zones?

Would love to hear anyones thoughts on this and their overall crash test prediction!

Best,
Craig

Welcome Craig. As we've discussed in previous threads, those clever engineers at Tesla designed the crumple zone into the other guys' vehicle. This way, the other vehicle is declared a total loss, carry on with your day. Despite the very valid evidence brought by Crissa, I don't see a lot of crumple happening on Cybertruck.
Don't take anything I say too seriously. We're all just trying to stave off insanity while we wait for our Cybertruck. ?

 

[FutureBoy]

We're all just trying to stave off insanity while we wait for our Cybertruck. ?

Some of us more successfully than others. LOL.

I’m one of the less successful ones.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

That's irrelevant. Crumple zones have nothing to do with incidental damage and vandalism.

-Crissa

Not irrelevant, just not part of the OP’s crumple zone question. And did I say otherwise? I want all of the safety features I can get, but I also want the 3mm stainless steel exoskeleton. My question is, can we have both, and your reply went in another direction.

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

Heavier cars are, by far, safer than lighter cars. This is especially true in car-to-car collisions.

https://phys.org/news/2015-05-heavier-pricier-vehicles-safer.html

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

I’m not over generalizing anything. Heavier = safer. It’s not a myth. Of course there are many other factors. You are not liable for damage to others, unless you are at fault. I’ve yet to hit someone. I have been hit. If I do get hit, I hope my vehicle is as safe as possible.

 

[VolklKatana]

I've been wondering how the Cybertruck's unique front end design will be engineered to crumple at high speeds.

In low speed collisions I imagine just the shorter hood area will crumple. The Cybertruck's front end is similar in length to ICE pickups, but the A-pillar encompasses where the back half of the hood would normally be. I'm curious if this area can be used to lengthen the deceleration time for high speed collisions and house additional structure for the small overlap. I believe the frunk runs under this area. The downside is this would result in intrusion into the frontal dashboard area, so the airbags or some restraint system would need to prevent limbs from reaching this area. Maybe they'll have a subframe, firewall, crossmember, a-pillar reinforcement, or thicker exoskeleton to separate the safety cell from this area and prevent intrusion into the passenger space.

Here's my simple depiction:

(low speed)

(high speed)

I'm not a structural or crash safety engineer so I could be completely wrong.

This will be interesting because I would assume there is going to be a front casting, much like the MY. The fewer the parts the better from Tesla's perspective, so i would think this would be a definite possibility. As you mentioned @Cyber_Starship im not sure what is left from a crumple zone perspective.

 

[Crissa]

Heavier cars are, by far, safer than lighter cars. This is especially true in car-to-car collisions.

I’m not over generalizing anything. Heavier = safer. It’s not a myth.

It is a myth.

...If you ignore single-car incidents and injuries to others, pedestrians for instance. Large vehicles get into more collisions, as well.

So as a system, they are not safer.

-Crissa

 

[CyberOwl]

I'm worried about shear force transfer during a crash. If it's made structural, the battery casing will be subject to massive forces, and will need to be designed to break away before breaking open.

 

[Crissa]

I'm worried about shear force transfer during a crash.

This will be thought about. The material between the cells is supposed to be rigid and fire/thermal runaway suppressing.
And if the section of the vehicle the batteries is in is subject to sheer forces at failure, you're talking about damage that enters the cabin itself.

-Crissa

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