Car crash collision calculation

[AFG34]

i am doing a physics project where you have to draw a situation and explain as much physics as possible. So me and my friends anre doing a car crash, actually a car hitting a pole. And we want to know a formula to calculate how much the pole will be pushed back/dented or if broken from base.

 

[Astronuc]

What kind of pole - wood or metal, hollow or solid.

One has to understant impulse loading.

The poll will shear if the shear stress exceeds the critical shear. Otherwise it could bend if sufficient moment is applied. It could dent (plastically deform), or the car's frame and body could absorb most of the energy.

See this for some ideas - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/impulse.html

 

[AFG34]

Thank you Astronuchttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/imgmec/ipls.gif

edit, i will use this formula but i need to know the average critical shear or maximun amounts of force (in Newtons) that an average steel pole can handle.