Biofidelity and repeatability evaluation of the thor dummy thorax, abdomen and femur, through a set of tests

Martínez, L.; Ferichola, G.; Guerra, L. J.; Van Ratingen, M.; Hynd, D.

Several pendulum tests were conducted in order to evaluate the biofidelity of the thorax, abdomen and femur of the new THOR-alpha frontal impact dummy under blunt impact. Test configurations were selected to compare THOR-alpha dummy response with the best up-to-date information available concerning thorax, abdomen and femur human response in pendulum tests. This paper presents the results of several sets of tests performed to evaluate dummy response against EEVC WG12 proposed biofidelity requirements for a frontal impact dummy, the NHTSA certifications and also corridors obtained in PMHS tests. Results indicate that dummy response is quite similar to PMHS response, although some parts could be redesigned to improve the biomechanical response of the THOR dummy. In addition to these pendulum tests, several tests were performed to evaluate the response under belt compression of the lower abdomen.

Keywords: THOR; Thorax; Abdomen; Femur; Biofidelity; Repeatability

Year

Entry

2001

Haffner M, Eppinger R, Rangarajan N, Shams T, Artis M, Beach D. Foundations and elements of the NHTSA Thor ALPHA ATD design. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

1973

Lobdell TE, Kroell CK, Schneider DC, Hering WE, Nahum AM. Impact response of the human thorax. In: King WF, Mertz HJ, eds. Human Impact Response: Measurement and Simulation. Proceedings of the Symposium on Human Impact Response held at the General Motors Research Laboratorie; October 2-3, 1972; Warren, MI. New York, NY: Plenum Press; 1973:201-243.

1971

Kroell CK, Schneider DC, Nahum AM. Impact tolerance and response of the human thorax. In: Proceedings of the 15th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1971; Coronado, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:84-134. SAE 710851.

1974

Kroell CK, Schneider DC, Nahum AM. Impact tolerance and response of the human thorax II. In: Proceedings of the 18th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 4-5, 1974; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:383-457. SAE 741187.

1985