NTL Record

Title Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory Fact Sheet
Record ID 65884
Personal Name
Contributor
Hargrave, Martin; Opiela, Kenneth S.; Kan, Cing-Dao
Corporate Creator United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and Development
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and Development
Publication Date 20060701
Language English
Abstract The Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL) is a fully equipped outdoor crash testing laboratory and research facility used to support the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Safety Research and Development (R&D) programs and other federally funded security initiatives. Researchers use the facility to extend their understanding of crash events by staging controlled, high-speed motor vehicle collisions. The facility typically is used to confirm the accuracy of computer-generated crash predictions. This ensures that tested roadside structures–structures that typically are located in close proximity to the Nation's roadways–function as intended when struck by a motor vehicle. Routine certification or compliance testing of roadside safety structures, including testing performed to ensure compliance with existing safety standards, is not conducted at the FOIL. In addition to staged motor vehicle collisions, the FOIL is equipped with a large pendulum mass swinging from a support structure. This device enables researchers to conduct low-speed impact testing. Researchers also often use the pendulum to perform dynamic-impact testing of structural components. This type of testing provides researchers with information and data to help improve the accuracy of computer-generated vehicle collisions.
Public Note Distribution number: HRDS-04/07-06(1M)E
Rosap ID dot:38696
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/38696
TRT Terms Crash tests; Crash injury research; Crashes
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number FHWA-HRT-06-107
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/65000/65800/65884/FHWA-HRT-06-107.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository