Low-Speed Go-Kart Crash Tests and a Comparison to Activities of Daily Living

Abstract

Go-karts are a common amusement park feature enjoyed by people of all ages. While intended for racing, contact between go-karts does occur. To investigate and quantify the accelerations and forces which result from contact, 44 low-speed impacts were conducted between a stationary (target) and a moving (bullet) go-kart. The occupant of the bullet go-kart was one of two human volunteers. The occupant of the target go-kart was a Hybrid III 50th percentile male anthropomorphic test device (ATD). Impact configurations consisted of rear-end impacts, frontal impacts, side impacts, and oblique impacts. Results demonstrated high repeatability for the vehicle performance and occupant response. Go-kart accelerations and speed changes increased with increased impact speed. Impact duration and restitution generally decreased with increased impact speed. All ATD acceleration, force, and moment values increased with increased impact speed. Common injury metrics such as the head injury criterion (HIC), Nij, and Nkm were calculated and were found to be below injury thresholds. Occupant response was also compared to published activities of daily living data.