EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF AIRBAG ABRASION TEST PROCEDURE

The validity of a laboratory test procedure for predicting the skin abrasion potential of driver-side airbags was investigated by comparing test results with abrasion injuries resulting from airbag deployment tests with human volunteers. A series of 32 airbag deployment tests was conducted using the laboratory test procedure and a second identical series was conducted using the legs of volunteer subjects. In each series, the tests included deployments with two levels of inflator capacity, distance, module cover retention, airbag fold, and gender. In the volunteer tests, abrasions resulted from all but four deployments. Statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the effects of the test variables on abrasion severity. Abrasions were found to be significantly smaller in area for a deployment distance of 275 mm than for 200 mm. The two folds produced significantly different abrasion severities. Gender and module cover retention did not affect abrasion severity. Results to inflator effect were compromised by a misclassification of airbag modules.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by TRW Safety Systems, Mesa, AZ.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150
• Publication Date: 1994-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 67 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abrasion tests; Air bags; Deployment; Test procedures
• Old TRIS Terms: Inflatable devices
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00714564
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTRI-94-7
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 11 1995 12:00AM