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. 2008:44:123-8.

Torso side airbag out-of-position evaluation using stationary and dynamic occupants

Jason J Hallman  1 , Narayan Yoganandan, Frank A Pintar
Affiliations

Torso side airbag out-of-position evaluation using stationary and dynamic occupants

Jason J Hallman et al. Biomed Sci Instrum. 2008.

Abstract

The risk of injury from torso side airbags in out-of-position (OOP) scenarios is assessed using stationary occupant conditions. Although stationary tests have been effective in frontal airbag assessments, their applicability to torso side airbags remains uncertain. Using the MADAYMO facet occupant model, thoracic OOP injury was evaluated using full-chest compression criteria (%C) and viscous criteria (VC) under stationary occupant conditions and occupant impact velocities of 6.0 m/s, 7.0 m/s, 8.0 m/s, and 9.0 m/s. During airbag deployment with a stationary occupant, peak %C = 21.8 % while peak VC = 0.86. At 6.0 m/s impact velocity, peak %C increased to 35.1 %; at 9.0 m/s impact velocity %C = 45.0 %. Similarly, peak VC increased from 1.19 at 6.0 m/s and to 1.96 at 9.0 m/s. These results demonstrated that thoracic injury metrics %C and VC increased in dynamic testing conditions. Therefore dynamic occupant tests may be required to effectively assess OOP thoracic injury risk.

Keywords: chest compression; injury biomechanics; lateral thorax; side impact; torso airbags; traffic accidents; viscous criteria.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MADYMO Facet Occupant Model orientation in the lateral impact apparatus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Facet Occupant Model thorax levels as viewed from left lateral.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Peak %C (left) and peak VC (right) resulting from close-proximity static airbag deployment.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Peak %C (left) and Peak VC (right) for 9 m/s impact velocity.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Peak %C (left) and Peak VC (right) resulting from impact velocities tested.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Increase in peak %C (left) and peak VC (right) over rigid wall values at impact velocities tested.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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