John Pinkerton

Model of IIHS side impact torso response measures using transfer function equations

Vehicle to vehicle crash compatibility is becoming an increasingly more important consideration during vehicle safety development due to the increasing numbers of SUVs and pickups in the vehicle fleet. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), their side impact crash test represents what happens when a passenger vehicle is struck by a pickup truck or SUV. The IIHS side impact test measures 37 different response criteria using an instrumented 5 th percentile female SID-lls ATD (anthropomorphic test device) in driver and left rear passenger seats. These measures are grouped into head and neck, torso, and pelvis and left leg regions. This paper will describe the development of transfer function equation models to assess the performance of design countermeasures by comparing the response measures of the torso region of the body. This transfer function model will be a useful tool in determining the significance of certain design parameters and making performance comparisons of design proposals. This tool will also allow safety engineers to experiment with various designs in the early stages of the development of the side impact countermeasures.