During a collision, the crumple zones crumple or deform in a controlled manner, causing the car to decelerate gradually. This helps limit the sudden impact on the passengers, reducing their exposure to high forces. The crumpling of these zones absorbs and dissipates the impact energy, reducing the shock transferred to the passengers.
The crumpling process allows the car's kinetic energy to be converted into heat and sound energy through the deformation of the metal and other components in the crumple zone. Additionally, modern crumple zones are often designed with materials and structures that further absorb the impact. These materials can include high-strength steel, aluminum alloys, and composites, which are designed to deform in a controlled manner and withstand high amounts of energy without breaking apart into sharp or jagged fragments.
By design, crumple zones are mostly located at the front and rear ends of the car, as these are the areas most likely to be involved in a collision. However, certain vehicles, like sports cars or modern SUV designs, may also incorporate crumple zones into their side structures to provide additional protection in case of a side-impact collision.
It's important to note that crumple zones are a key safety feature in modern vehicles and work in conjunction with other safety technologies, such as seat belts, airbags, and anti-lock braking systems, to enhance occupant protection in the event of a collision.
