Abstract
To estimate parameters in a traffic accident reconstruction model, an analytical method was proposed. A twodimensional car-to-car impact model combined with a tire model and two-wheel equivalence model was developed for reconstructing traffic accidents. Normal and tangential restitution coefficients in an impact model, as well as the friction coefficient, slip ratio and steering angle of a tire model were adopted as unknown model parameters. The parameters were estimated so as to minimize the difference between the calculated and observed rest positions of vehicles. For evaluating the effect of tire model in reconstructing traffic accidents, three tire models were compared; Sakai's tire model, modified Sakai's tire model and Gim's tire model. After the validity of the estimation method was investigated for an artificial accident, the method was applied to two actual traffic accidents and the model parameters were evaluated. A computer animation system that works on the Windows system was also developed.
