Experimental Determination of the Translational Acceleration Values for a Spinning Vehicle

Accident reconstructionists often determine pre-collision conditions based on post-collision evidence. Energy-based speed calculations for skidding vehicles are commonly used and have been the basis for numerous theoretical and experimental works. The simplest analysis technique, “skid-to-stop” is fairly well understood, however the more complex circumstance of a spinning trajectory is less well understood. This paper will describe a series of experiments conducted to evaluate the frictional values applicable to a spinning vehicle as it rotates and translates without brake application.