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Fifty-three static out-of-position tests were conducted with a “small female” dummy placed in three different positions, and with distances of 0 mm and 50 mm from the airbag. The driver-side module with a single-stage inflator was additionally tested with inflator versions tailored to 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% of peak tank pressure, in order to simulate the first of two stages of a dual-stage inflator. In general, biomechanical loadings decreased with less inflator propellant. Critical chest loadings were measured down to the 60%-stage. The neck extension bending moment exceeded the limit only with the lOO%-charge. With distances of 50 mm, none of the threshold values were exceeded. Energy reductions of 20% between two stages did not necessarily reduce occupant loadings.

The present study was conducted to compare a new air bag folding pattern, the so-called Petri folding (P-folding) with the conventional folding scheme, the so-called Leporello folding (L-folding) under out-of-position conditions. Static out-of-position tests were carried through with driverside air bag modules mounted to a rigid test stand and folded either according to the PF- or the LF-scheme. A Hybrid Ill small female dummy was placed on a seat in front of the module with two main test configurations: “chest centered on module” and “forehead centered on module” with varying separations from the module ranging from 0 to 100 mm. For the configuration “chest centered on module” values of all relevant injury criteria for the chest and the neck were significantly lower with the P-folding. For the configuration “forehead centered on module” neck loadings were lower with P-folding in almost all cases except for neck tension and extension moment at separations of 0 mm and 20 mm.