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This study investigates occupant containment characteristics of tempered and laminated automotive moveable side glass in rollover collisions. FMVSS 216 test protocols were used to induce roof damage or sheet metal damage around the window opening in Lincoln Navigators equipped with tempered and laminated side glass. Dummy-drop tests were then performed to investigate relative containment. The results demonstrate that, for rollovers in which the window structure is compromised, tempered side glass and laminated side glass perform comparably relative to occupant containment. Also discussed are the general strength characteristics of different types of glass construction, the availability of laminated side glass in recent model U.S. vehicles, and anecdotal data supporting the conclusions of testing.

Accident data from the Fatal Accident Reporting System show that over 300 people each year are killed or injured while riding in the bed of a pickup truck. The number of individuals involved varies from year to year with no discernable trend. The number of people involved has lead to requests for the application of additional warnings to the bodies of pickup trucks, beyond those already found in the owner's manuals advising against the use of the bed of the truck to carry passengers. The question addressed in this study is whether the occupants of the bed of a pickup truck are aware of the risk of increased injury if the truck is involved in an accident while they occupy the bed and as a result whether they require additional information in the form of warnings.

During the past 20 years, computer databases containing systematically recorded descriptions of on-road vehicle accidents have become an established resource for vehicle safety engineers. Until recently, however, use of these data sources for crashworthiness analysis has been limited to those engineers who have both ready access to large computer systems and sufficient skill in computer programming methods. In the following paper, the authors describe a robust data analysis software application they have jointly developed. This program runs on a personal computer and summarizes data residing in specially-prepared subsets of the NCSS, NASS and FARS databases.

This paper has utilized a specially created subset of the data contained within the National Accident Sampling Study (NASS) for an updated and expanded analysis of the relationship between Delta V and injury. The data presented embrace over 20,000 accidents of passenger cars, light trucks and utility vehicles involved in accidents between 1980 and 1991. These unique accidents have been extracted from the massive amount of available information contained within the NASS data in order that the variables which have the greatest information content for our subject can be studied and analyzed. Some of the variables which were extracted and studied include Delta V, Principle Direction of Force, restraint system type and use, injuries, vehicle weight and type as well as the occupant variables of age and sex which are believed to influence human tolerance to injury.

A new crash test device has been developed, called “Repeatable Pete.” It is a repeatable, durable anthropomorphic dummy with humanlike dynamic performance. This paper describes the device and gives details of its design and performance during testing in automotive situations. The head, neck, and chest match the latest biomechanical information on the dynamic responses of unembalmed cadavers. The head c.g. accelerations adequately match the skull acceleration, so that head injury criteria based upon cadaver skull acceleration may be used.

This paper describes the development of an improved neck simulation that can be adapted to current anthropometric dummies. The primary goal of the neck design is to provide a reasonable simulation of human motion during impact while maintaining a simple, rugged structure. A synthesis of the current literature on cervical spine mechanics was incorporated with the results of x-ray studies of cervical spine mobility in human volunteers and with the analysis of head-neck motions in human volunteer sled tests to provide a background for the design and evaluation of neck models. Development tests on neck simulations were carried out using a small impact sled. Tests on the final prototype simulation were also performed with a dummy on a large impact sled. Both accelerometers and high-speed movies were used for performance evaluation.

This paper discusses the development of adequate criteria and evaluation methods for seat belt restraint design. These criteria should include the effect of seat belts in abdominal injury as well as head injury. It is concluded that belt load limiters and energy-absorbing devices should limit head-to-vehicle contact, ensure that the lap belt maintains proper contact with the bony pelvic girdle, and limit the belt loads. Studies are made of pulse shape and belt fabrics. Currently available mathematical models are used for the studies included in the paper.

In a previous study, an extensive study of the dynamic performance of child seating systems indicated that little protection was provided under circumstances other than panic braking. This study was performed with impact test conditions of 30 mph frontal and 20 mph lateral and rear barrier impacts with seating systems meeting the requirements of FMVSS 213. Additionally, the performance of prototype seats developed under contract with the Department of Transportation under similar test conditions will be presented to compare the protective qualities available with seats of current design and those that could become available in the future. The performance of the child seats will be evaluated using two criteria, motion limits and acceleration limits. It is believed that the performance of child seats can be determined without the extensive test equipment and facilities required for adult seating and restraint systems.

A study of the biomechanical factors concerned with the design of side structures and doors for crashworthiness has been made. Questions regarding optimum stiffness, location of reinforcing members, effect of armrests, and padding have been answered within the framework of injury criteria models. Results of animal studies, cadaver studies, and anthropometric dummies have been combined to produce injury criteria for lateral impacts to the head, thorax, and abdomen. Impacts were applied utilizing a specially designed “air gun” in a laboratory environment emphasizing reproducibility and control. Full-scale crash simulations were performed on an impact sled to verify the results of the more specialized tests and analyses. Scaled models of current production doors were used in the animal series. Scaling relationships for various species of animals have been developed and extrapolated to man. Significant differences in right and left side tolerances to impact were noted and detailed.

Initially, scientific investigators developed their own human simulators for use in adverse environment testing. This paper describes some of the history of the development of different types of human simulation techniques and their limitations. The increased necessity for more accurate simulations for automotive safety studies has created a need for additional sophistication. Sophisticated Sam, created by Sierra Engineering Co. under the sponsorship of the General Motors Corp., represents a significant advance in the state-of-the-art. The rationale behind the creation of a working simulator is presented along with proposed performance criteria.