Current worldwide side impact activities:​ divergence versus harmonisation and the possible effect on future car design

McNeill, A.; Haberl, J.; Holzner, M.; Schoeneburg, R.; Strutz, T.; Tautenhahn, U.

Affiliations

¹BMW AG

²Audi AG

³Daimler Chrysler AG

⁴Volkswagen AG

⁵Porsche AG

Abstract

Car manufacturers design vehicles and side impact restraint systems to protect passengers from the risk of serious injury in the event of a side impact. In each of the major markets of the world, the sideimpact testing requirements as set by the regulatory and the consumer interests are generally different. This paper will document and compare the international side impact regulatory and consumer test requirements of now and the future.

Using a sample of results from vehicles tested in accordance with the discussed future regulations and consumer tests, it is shown that vehicles currently “best rated” for side-impact protection in consumer tests need to be redesigned in order to meet the prospective regulatory requirements. This paper will discuss the vehicle structural, interior and restraint design changes, which could be required.

The global side-impact tests and requirements are diverging, and not converging towards a harmonized Side-impact Testing Protocol as presented by the IHRA at the 2003 ESV Conference. It is our goal that side-impact requirements and procedures should become less diversified and more harmonized as we continue to improve side-impact protection for all customers worldwide.

Links

URL: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv19/05-0077-O.pdf

Cited Works (5)

Year	Entry
2003	van Ratingen M, Versmissen T, Waagmeester C, Roberts A, Lowne R, Lechelt U, Langner T. Development of a European side impact interior headform test procedure. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
2003	Seyer K. International harmonised research activities side impact working group status report. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
2003	The Side Airbag Out-of-Position Injury Technical Working Group. Recommended Procedures for Evaluating Occupant Injury Risk from Deploying Side Airbags. July 2003.
2003	Dakin GJ, Arbelaez RA, Nolan JM, Zuby DS, Lund AK. Insurance institute for highway safety side impact crashworthiness evaluation program: impact configuration and rationale. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
2003	Roberts AK, van Ratingen MR. Progress on the development of the advanced European mobile deformable barrier face (AE-MDB). In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.

Cited By (2)

Year	Entry
2007	Cech L, Helleman H, Schiefele M, Hu J, Rice D, Heudorfer B, Kraft M. Adaptive side impact restraints using intrusion based crash sensing and discrimination. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2013	Malak A, Poisson P, Touratier D. Evaluation of the afl advanced european mobile deformable barrier for side impact versus the ECE-R95 in dynamic load cell wall test. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 27-30, 2013; Seoul, South Korea.