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Recently, the global increase of elderly vehicle users has become an issue to be considered in the effort of enhancing safety performance of vehicle restraint system. It is thought that an evaluation tool for the system representing properties of age-specific human body will play a major role for that. In previous research, the authors had developed age-specific component finite element (FE) models for the lower limb, lumbar spine, and thorax representing the adult and elderly occupants. However, the models have not been validated in terms of full body kinematics. It is essential for such models to be validated in terms of full body kinematics in order to ensure validity of the results of the assessment of the safety performance of restraint systems. In the present research, the adult and elderly occupant full body FE models were developed by incorporating the lower limb, lumbar spine and thorax of the adult and elderly FE models established in previous research.

Many control valves utilizing the vacuum pressur of engines are used to control the engine, fuel supply, and driving speed. The authors established an empirical formula regarding sealing performance of control valves made of rubber. This formula clarifies the relationship amoung the rubber valve design factors, the counter surface conditions, and the vacuum conditions, with the sealing performance. By applying this formula, it became possible to predict the sealing performance of control valves at a design stage to satisfy the customer's specification.