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RESEARCH RELATING TO EA (ENERGY ABSORBING) SEAT SYSTEMS. RESEARCH REPORT

A cooperative project to develop an energy-absorbing (EA) seat/seat belt system is reported. The basic system employs an EA mechanism within the seat, EA shoulder belt webbing, and low-elasticity lap belt webbing. Eight types of EA seats were manufactured and statically tested by independent companies. Basic characteristics of the EA mechanisms were determined in HYGE sled tests using Hybrid II dummies and actual vehicle tests at 64 kph. For comparison, vehicle tests were conducted at 48 and 56 kph using a three-point belt system with emergency locking retractor (ELR). Head Injury Criterion and Chest Severity Index values for both the sled and vehicle tests demonstrate the safety potential of the EA seat system. The vehicle tests showed the need for developing padding for the steering column, its supports, and the underside of the instrument panel. Extrapolating the test (64 kph) results, the EA system performed better than air bags in 48 kph impacts. Compared with 48 kph impact tests on three-point belt with ELR and the Volkswagen passive belt, the EA system performed comparably at 64 kph. Research recommendations are made for the development of a complete passenger protection system.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Translated from Japanese. Sponsored by Japanese Automobile Research Institute and Japan Automobile Industrial Society. Reference copy only.
  • Corporate Authors:

    EA Seat System Joint Research Committee

    ,   Japan 
  • Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: 194 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00371203
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Report/Paper Numbers: HS-030 511
  • Files: HSL, USDOT
  • Created Date: Mar 31 1983 12:00AM