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EDCRASH — Collision Reconstruction

Engineering Dynamics Company Reconstruction of Accident Speeds on the Highway

Version 7 — Updated Markdown edition, based on the Sixth Edition (January 2006) printed manual and revised to match the current HVE/EDCRASH release.

EDCRASH is an analysis used to reconstruct single and two vehicle accidents. It determines the conditions of impact, including the impact speeds and delta-V of the vehicles, using information obtained from vehicle and accident site inspections. EDCRASH is compatible with both HVE-2D and HVE.

How to Use This Manual

This manual describes the EDCRASH model features and use. Input parameters and output reports are described at a high level. This manual is intended to be used in conjunction with the HVE User's Manual, which provides in-depth coverage of the human, vehicle and environment models, as well as the Event Editor and Playback Editor.

Contents

Chapter Description
1 — Program Description Overview, model inputs/outputs, validation, HVE-2D and HVE, basic procedure
2 — Program Input Vehicles, environment, event set-up, calculation options, executing an event
3 — Program Output Alpha-numeric reports (Accident History, Damage Data, Event Data, Messages, Program Data, Vehicle Data) and graphic reports (Damage Profiles, Momentum Diagrams, Site Drawing)
4 — Calculation Method Impact phase (collinear and oblique), impact-to-rest phase, trajectory simulation, assumptions
5 — EDCRASH Tutorial Complete worked example: intersection collision between a Ford Escort and a Nissan Sentra
6 — Messages All Fatal, Diagnostic and Informative messages issued by EDCRASH, with recommended actions
7 — Technical References Bibliography
  • Calculation Options for EDCRASH — reference for every control in the EDCRASH Calculation Options dialog (Program Options, Separation Velocity Basis, Consistency Checks, Simulation Convergence Criteria).

Notes on This Edition

This Markdown edition preserves the substance of the original printed manual. Where the printed manual has become stale relative to the current release, the text has been updated and marked with an italic (updated: ...) note. Key updates:

  • The Calculation Options dialog now includes a fourth Program Options check box, Include Angular Momentum Solution (default off, currently disabled), and a fourth Separation Velocity Basis choice, Iterate on Sideslip, which is rejected by the current physics engine.
  • Default Consistency Check thresholds (PDOF ±10 deg, Delta-V ±0.10, K.E. ±0.50, Newton's 3rd Law ±1.00) and Simulation Convergence Criteria (5 runs; rest 0.10/0.10, EOR 0.15/0.15, POC 0.15) match the current release.
  • Figures and report screenshots from the original are referenced by placeholder.
  • The original Chapter 8 (Index) is omitted; use full-text search across the chapter files instead.

Next: Chapter 1 — EDCRASH Program Description →