Stoßpartner

Stoßpartner is a German term that translates to "collision partner" or "impact partner" in English, commonly used in the context of automotive safety testing. The term refers to a specialized vehicle or structure designed to simulate the impact of a collision in controlled laboratory conditions. These tests are conducted to evaluate the structural integrity, safety features, and occupant protection of vehicles during crashes.

Stoßpartner systems are typically used in crashworthiness testing, where a test vehicle is deliberately crashed into a stationary or moving Stoßpartner to replicate real-world collision scenarios. The design of the Stoßpartner varies depending on the type of collision being simulated, such as frontal, side, or rear impacts. For example, a frontal Stoßpartner may resemble a rigid barrier or another vehicle to mimic a head-on collision, while a side Stoßpartner might be a deformable structure to represent a collision with another car or an obstacle.

These tests are crucial for assessing compliance with safety regulations, improving vehicle design, and developing advanced safety technologies. Automakers and research institutions use Stoßpartner systems to gather data on crash dynamics, which helps in refining safety measures like airbags, seatbelts, and crumple zones. The results of these tests are also used in regulatory assessments, such as those conducted by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States.

In addition to traditional vehicles, Stoßpartner can also refer to specialized test rigs or barriers used in laboratory settings. These may include pendulum systems, which swing a test vehicle into a fixed barrier, or moving barriers that replicate high-speed collisions. The use of Stoßpartner in testing ensures consistency and repeatability, allowing engineers to analyze vehicle performance under standardized conditions.