EFFECT OF SEAT STIFFNESS IN OUT-OF-POSITION OCCUPANT RESPONSE IN REAR-END COLLISIONS

A series of 7 rear impact sled tests, having a nominal delta V (speed change) of 21 mph, with Hybrid III dummies positioned in the "Normal Dummy Seated Position", "Out of Position" and slightly "Out of Position" is presented. Tests were performed on yielding production Toyota and Mercedes Benz seats and on a much stiffer modified Ford Aerostar seat. Available Hybrid III upper and lower neck and torso instrumentation were used to analyze and to compare injury potential for each set of test parameters. In all cases, neck forces and moments were found to increase when the dummy's torso was leaned forward at impact. For the out-of-position tests, the results showed that the upper neck loads were clearly related to seat stiffness; stiffer seats produced greater neck loading. The lower neck loads, however, showed no definite correlation with seat back stiffness. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 891635.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: p. 331-44

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00740899
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
  • ISBN: 1-56091-901-9
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Oct 30 1997 12:00AM