Far-Side Occupant Kinematics in Low Speed Lateral Sled

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the far-side occupant kinematics in low-speed lateral pulses with and without a seatbelt system.

Methods. The kinematics responses of three volunteers and a Hybrid III were compared in three low-to-moderate lateral pulses. The parameters evaluated were pulses and belt usage. A total of 24 tests were carried out in a side-impact sled. The subjects consisted of two 50th-percentile males (Vol 1 & 2), one 5th-percentile female (Vol 3), and a Hybrid III 50th-percentile male (ATD). All subjects were seated in a far-side impact. Three low speed pulses were used: Pulse 1: a 4 g at 6 km/h, Pulse 2: 4 g/8 kph followed by a -2.5 g pulse to simulate a low curb impact, and Pulse 3: a 4 g's pulse at 10 km/h. In addition, the kinematics result from Pulse 2 was used to assess the performance of a human model. The human model was developed by TNO.

Results. For all three pulses, the peak head lateral displacement was greater with the 5th female (Vol 3) than the male volunteers. The ATD results in the 6 and 10 km/h pulses were comparable to the volunteers. However, in Pulse 2, the ATD motion was higher than the volunteers.

Conclusion. The results obtained in this study suggest the Hybrid III is a somewhat conservative device for an evaluation of occupant kinematics in low-speed lateral pulses. The human model also seemed to be representative of volunteer kinematics.

Keywords:

• Seatbelt
• Tension
• Volunteers
• Performance
• Lateral
• Excursion

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author of this study thanks Delphi Corporation for supporting this research, especially Minoo Shah and Dr. Steffan Data Technik for the testing, in particular Manfred Hofinger.