A Design Methodology for Interior Components to Comply With FMVSS201 Head Impact Requirement

This paper discusses how the FMVSS 201 regulation requires that interior components in upper compartment of a passenger vehicle pass a head impact test using a Free Moving Head (FMH) model with a HIC(d) limit. In this type of test, most interior components themselves do not generate high Head Injury Criterion (HIC)(d) numbers but the steel structures underneath these components do. In addition to normal functions, interior components need to absorb the kinetic energy of the FMH model such that the acceleration response of the FMH model does not generate a high HIC(d) number in the test. The paper first reviews the existing work on the principles for the head impact protection and identifies limitations of the existing theory for the design of the interior components that are mounted on flexible structures. This paper discusses and proposes a design methodology for automotive interior components to ensure that they comply with FMVSS 201 head impact requirements. This paper identifies special considerations in the design of an energy absorbing layer on a flexible structure, which is common in automotive interior components. It is found conservative designing an energy absorbing layer on a flexible structure directly using existing methods from references. Also this paper discusses several typical deceleration behaviors of a constant force energy absorbing layer on a flexible structure and suggests the saturated design as an acceptable design. The paper further proposes design criteria and provides all equations for this design. Finally, this paper demonstrates a practical design case of an energy absorbing element on a cover of a seat belt slip ring. This design has reduced the HIC number by half with no change to the overall dimensions of the original cover.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2000-01-0638
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/076800568X
• Corporate Authors:

  SAE International

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096-0001
• Authors:
  • He, Simon X
  • Devilbiss, Tad
  • Angamuthu, Ravichandran
• Publication Date: 2000-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: 1
• Pagination: v.p.
• Monograph Title: Side Impact Collision Research

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Head motion range; Headrests; Impact tests; Interior design; Steel structures; Vehicle design; Vehicle interiors
• Identifier Terms: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Head injuries
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01113369
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 076800568X
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 21 2008 12:39PM