This paper deals with frontal crash simulations with 3 point seat-belts, in which the conventional anthropomorphic test dummy has been replaced by a fresh unembalmed cadaver. Numerous test conditions have been used.

Here are the complete results on the thorax for 31 cadavers in dynamic tests and 7 others in static tests.

Specific interest in the thorax comes from the examination of injuries which has shown that, for a normal test, severe injuries are seldom located elsewhere than in the thorax.

Methodology, which is the first described, states in particular how the cadavers are prepared with reconstitution of blood pressure and lung inflation and how skeleton strength is characterized.

Among the results shown are those for the thorax autopsies, the corresponding seat belt restraint forces, some measurements with dummies used simultaneously and some data on recorded thorax deflections.

Injuries observed when carrying out the autopsies are compared with the measurements (forces, accelerations, deflections) made on cadavers and dummies, and with previously published data.

The difference between tolerance to impact and to belt forces is pointed out. Some data which might help to define a dummy thorax is included.