DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF STEERING ASSEMBLY COUNTERMEASURES. FINAL REPORT

The objective of this research program was to conduct dynamic sled tests to evaluate the safety performance of steering assembly countermeasures, tested individually, in combinations, and as complete systems. In addition, dynamic tests were performed to evaluate the current recommended steering control test procedure, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 203 (Procedure SAE J944a) to determine if it can distinguish between the performance of the various countermeasures and to ascertain if the responses from this test procedure indicate the same trends as the data from the dynamic sled tests. The first requirement of this program was to develop and statically test modified steering system components for the 1981 Chevrolet Citation and 1979 Ford Granada. The modified components were evaluated in a series of 21 sled tests at 30 mph using a Hybrid III dummy. Also developed were two special steering systems called Benefit 1 and Benefit 2 which were tested in a series of eight sled tests. An evaluation of the current steering control test procedure in FMVSS No. 203 was performed with a Tuffy dummy and the torso of a Hybrid III dummy impacted into various steering assemblies at 15 mph and 20 mph. Sixteen baseline sled tests were conducted with the Citation and Granada body bucks. After the evaluation runs of all the modified components, a "best" system, composed of optimum component properties, was developed. The steering systems which ranked highest, based on an evaluation of dummy chest acceleration, chest deflection, and abdominal deflection, were the Benefit 1 and 2 systems.

• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Naab, K N
• Publication Date: 1988-12

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 166 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Dummies; Dynamic tests; Equipment assemblies; Performance evaluations; Sled tests; Steering; Test procedures; Vehicle safety
• Identifier Terms: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Old TRIS Terms: Steering assembly; Steering control; Test results; Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496484
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: Rept No. 7513-2, HS-807 386
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-86-C-07321
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM