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STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG COLLISION PERFORMANCE

CONCLUSIONS BASED ON AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM INCLUDE: (1) THE AIRBAG CAN BE SENSED, TRIGGERED, AND INFLATED AFTER COLLISION INITIATION IN TIME (40-50 MS) TO PROVIDE DRIVER PROTECTION; (2) THE AIRBAG CUSHIONS THE FACE AND ABDOMEN AT VELOCITIES UP TO 30 MPH, AND PREVENTS INJURIOUS CONCENTRATED LOADS WHEN THE IMPACT IS CENTERED; (3) HEAD ACCELERATIONS WERE BELOW THE 80 G/3 MS INJURY CRITERION IN ALL CASES OF IMPACT TO THE BAG; (4) REBOUND VELOCITIES UP TO 9 MPH APPEAR SATISFACTORY; (5) VELOCITIES UP TO 86 MPH WERE IMPARTED BY THE INFLATING AIRBAG TO THE ARM INITIALLY ACROSS THE STEERING WHEEL. (6) NO FRACTURES OR HEAD ACCELERATIONS IN EXCESS OF 80 G/3 MS INJURY CRITERIA RESULTED FROM ARM AND HAND IMPACT TO THE HEAD; (7) THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD NOT ROTATE (BEND) UPWARD DURING FRONTAL IMPACT TO EXPOSE THE LOWER RIM TO ABDOMINAL IMPACT. (8) COLUMN BENDING INHIBITS COLLAPSE OF THE COLUMN; (9) BAG SHAPE, SIZE, AND PRESSURE BLOW-OUT VALVE SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO CAUSE COLUMN COLLAPSE PRIOR TO BAG COLLAPSE; (10) BAG AND COLUMN SHOULD OPERATE TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM DRIVER DECELERATING DISTANCE-- THE AIRBAG DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE ENERGY ABSORBING COLUMN; (11) PROVISION FOR PROTECTION FROM OFF- CENTER (AND OBLIQUE) IMPACTS IS NECESSARY AND CAN BE ATTAINED BY USING A LARGE BAG TO PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM WEDGING BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DOOR. /HSL/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • 11 Pp, 7 ReF
  • Corporate Authors:

    Automotive Engineering Congress

    ,    
  • Authors:
    • Trosien, K R
    • PATRICK, L M
  • Publication Date: 1971

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00221284
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Highway Safety Literature
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 18 1971 12:00AM