Krish E. Aekbote

A review of side impact component test methodologies

Development of a vehicle in meeting various side impact performance requirements entails countermeasures (Side Airbags (SAB), door trims, EA foams, etc.) development and assessment using component and subsystem testing and analytical methods. Final occupant performance is verified using prototype testing at full vehicle level that are extensive and time-consuming. To expedite the timely development and assessment of countermeasures, component test methodologies were developed. This paper presents a literature review of side impact component test methodologies that have been used to aid in countermeasures development for occupant protection in various side impact test modes. Test methods reviewed in this paper were not exhaustive, but included a majority of developments beginning from the late 1980s to date. Component/subsystem methodologies presented in this paper are simplified tools for countermeasures development to meet FMVSS 214, Lateral Impact New Car Assessment Programme (LINCAP), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or European side impact tests. Descriptions and remarks on each methodology are discussed. The state-of-the-art side impact component test methodology is summarised in relation to their test procedure, test mode, body component involved, key parameters, side structure used, sensor signals considered and CAE and test facility used. In addition, some basics of side impact testing are reviewed with analysis of velocity profiles. Recent developments in component/subsystem test methodologies are also presented, including a CAE-driven test method.

Critical comparisons of responses between side impact MDB and pole test modes

This paper describes in detail the comparison of structural responses and their effect on occupant responses between the moving deformable barrier and oblique pole test modes, including the test protocol, dummies and injury metrics. The temporal sequence of events that takes place in each of these test modes are presented in light of the primary momentum exchanges and the underlying physics. Furthermore, the key factors that affect dummy responses in each of these test modes are identified and summarised. Additionally, a brief conceptual framework to understand overall vehicle and occupant dynamics is presented. Vehicle crash dynamics covers the analyses of vehicle effective mass, vehicle lateral stiffness and structural analysis using momentum and energy conservation, for design and development of vehicle structure and simulation of structural responses using sub-system test/CAE methodology. Occupant dynamics focuses on analysis of dummys body regions including head, neck, thorax, pelvis and upper leg to develop countermeasures and better understand the effectiveness of side restraints such as airbags.

A door sub-system sled test methodology for simulation of occupant responses in FMVSS 214 side impact oblique pole test

This paper describes the development of a new door subsystem sled test methodology to simulate the occupant responses in NHTSAs 75° oblique pole side impact test mode using SID-IIs and ES-2re dummies. This sled subsystem test methodology consists of a door sled oriented at 75°, with the dummy on a seat located at the same distance from the door as in full-vehicle test, to simulate gap closure for evaluating side airbags. The door sled is accelerated to an initial velocity of 20 mph and then impacts the stationary pole. From the onset of door contact with the pole, the velocity of door sled is decelerated following the non-struck side velocity of the vehicle by means of VIA decelerator. The validation of the test methodology with both SID-IIs and ES-2re dummies is presented by comparing their respective responses between the sled subsystem and full-vehicle tests.