An extensive study on using non-linear finite element analyses to aid in calibrating a thorax or roof rail curtain airbag sensing system is presented. Modeling techniques and lessons learned from previously investigated frontal sensing finite element analyses were adopted in this side impact study. Modeling techniques that can be applied to the side impact simulations were identified and incorporated in a chosen van model. The van model was then used to simulate a set of no-deployment and deployment side impact calibration events. The simulation results were compared with available test data and side impact sensing algorithms were used to determine the airbag deployment time from the simulations. Airbag deployment times from the simulations are comparable to the test and it is strongly suggested from this study that a high fidelity vehicle model with a FEAcompatible sensing algorithm can greatly improve sensing simulation capability for side impacts.