Predictive Estimation of Side Pole Impact Dummy Response Based on Linear Impactor SAB Performance 2018-01-5018

This article discusses steps to predictively estimate the responses of Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) in a side impact event, based on a Side Airbag (SAB) Force-Deformation (F-D) characteristics derived from the linear impactor test. A critical load management challenge that has been used to assess this predictive response process is the oblique pole impact test - part of the FMVSS 214 protocol. In this scenario, the ATD is assumed to have a free travel until it is stopped by the crushed and stacked up door against the rigid pole. Three critical energy management paths involved to manage the kinetic energy of the ATD at impact are assumed at the onset, namely, the door trim crush, ATD torso loading and most important efficient energy management of the SAB at a controlled force level. The SAB energy management is assumed critical and tied with the final response of the test ATD. In the study being reported, the amount of energy absorbed by the SAB and the reaction force of the SAB are used to predictively estimate the final responses of the test ATD. After robust vehicle components and systems designs for body structure, door trim, friendly interior and effective SAB to ATD coverage are achieved, results from this study show that the F-D response of the SAB is crucial and may be used to predictively estimate the final response of the test ATD.

The ability to predictively estimate ATD responses via linear impactor derived SAB F-D at the component level will invariably greatly reduce SAB development time and overall side impact safety development cost. Examples of physical SAB linear impactor test results have been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of this predictive assessment tool in terms of SAB development time.