Accident Safety

[crash68]

Came across this article about how the new Cybertruck doesn't really have crumple zones to reduce vehicle impact forces in an accident. Instead the engineers are saying the Gigacasting will shatter into small pieces to absorb the impact.
Is it just me or does that sound possibly safe for the occupants of the Cybertruck but more dangerous for the other vehicle(s) involved or around the accident along with any pedestrians. Flying shrapnel doesn't really sound all that safe.

Tesla Cybertruck crumple zones rely on shattering gigacastings for occupant safety — repair cost implications could be dire

Tesla recently explained how the crumple zones in the Cybertruck help protect the electric pickup truck's occupants. As opposed to a bending frame, collisions seem to obliterate the entire front gigacasting. The Cybertruck's safety has been called into question a number of times due to its stiff...

www.notebookcheck.net

 

[Docwagon1776]

Came across this article about how the new Cybertruck doesn't really have crumple zones to reduce vehicle impact forces in an accident. Instead the engineers are saying the Gigacasting will shatter into small pieces to absorb the impact.
Is it just me or does that sound possibly safe for the occupants of the Cybertruck but more dangerous for the other vehicle(s) involved or around the accident along with any pedestrians. Flying shrapnel doesn't really sound all that safe.

Tesla Cybertruck crumple zones rely on shattering gigacastings for occupant safety — repair cost implications could be dire

Tesla recently explained how the crumple zones in the Cybertruck help protect the electric pickup truck's occupants. As opposed to a bending frame, collisions seem to obliterate the entire front gigacasting. The Cybertruck's safety has been called into question a number of times due to its stiff...

www.notebookcheck.net

I used to do demolitions. I seriously doubt it's a concern. There's nothing to shape the energy, the sectional density of any shrapnel will be terrible, and it's contained inside all the other bits of the truck. I just don't see it having enough energy to penetrate the sheet metal. In the video, there's zero sign of impact on the floor under the truck.

What's a bigger concern to me is the amount of energy transfer that will take place along the frame. Crumple zones exist for not only the obvious reason of absorbing energy but also absorbing energy *there* before it travels further along the frame. I don't see how you could mimic this with a casting of uniform strength. Maybe there's angles built in to weaken certain areas? Or would that count as a crumple zone and not line up with the statement from Tesla? Given that this thing is heavy AF and the brittle nature of castings, I don't see it being safer than traditional crumple zones for occupants. That's outside my wheelhouse, though, maybe I'm missing something.