Numerical modelling of different airbag folding patterns and their influence on occupant responses in frontal vehicle impact

Abstract

This paper presented a procedure for airbag folding for the application in occupant safety studies and analysed the influence of different airbag folding patterns on the occupant severity in frontal impact. Airbags were folded in two patterns: zig-zag and top-roll, using two folding techniques: Initial Metric Method and Explicit Folding. The explicit folding was found to be more expensive in terms of preparation time. However, this approach provided more control over the whole folding process. The Initial Metric Method was more robust, however, it’s hard to apply for complex folding patterns. Deployments of airbags were validated against experimental data of pendulum tests. Those airbag models were applied to 2006 Ford F250 pickup truck. This vehicle was used for simulations of frontal vehicle impact where the 50^th male Hybrid III crash test dummy was an occupant. Results of this simulation were compared with an actual test with a similar vehicle, under the same impact conditions. Results showed the head and chest accelerations were lower for top-roll folded airbag cases, however neck normal forces were higher compared to zig-zag folded airbag. The internal pressure in the early stage of deployment was 33% higher for the top-roll folded airbags.

Keywords:

• Traffic injuries
• road traffic safety
• numerical modelling
• crash tests
• FEM, airbag, accident

Author contributions

Study concept and design were performed by LP, HF; model preparation and simulations were carried out by LP; analysis and interpretation by LP; drafting of manuscript by LP, HF; critical revision of manuscript by HF; and study supervision was done by HF.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Acknowledgments

The calculations were carried out at the Academic Computer Centre in Gdansk, Gdansk University of Technology, Poland.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Centre of Poland under grant number 2020/37/B/ST8/03231.