Offset test design and preliminary results

Saunders, James; Louden, Allison; Prasad, Aloke

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is conducting a research program to investigate the feasibility of a high speed frontal offset deformable barrier (ODB) crash test to improve frontal occupant crash protection. The focus of the program is to reduce debilitating lower extremity injuries in frontal offset collisions. This paper discusses three areas of research in this program: new seating procedure, preliminary results of the new crash test, and an analysis of frontal stiffness characteristics of redesigned vehicles and their ODB test procedure performance.

The new seating procedure uses Hybrid III male dummies fitted with Thor-LX/HIII legs (HIII50LX). A particularly challenging problem was the development of a test procedure with repeatable positioning of the Thor-LX/HIII feet with respect to the pedals in some vehicles. inversion/eversion was the primary failure mode of the ankle was. The kinematics and mechanism of this failure are examined.

Preliminary data are presented that compare the frontal stiffness characteristics of vehicle models that were redesigned and used in both NCAP and IIHS crashworthiness rating programs. The potential impact of this on the compatibility of the light vehicle fleet is discussed.

Year

Entry

2003

Swanson J, Rockwell T, Beuse N, Summers L, Summers S, Park B. Evaluation of stiffness measures from the U.S. new car assessment program. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.

1995

Thomas P, Charles J, Fay P. Lower limb injuries: the effect of intrusion, crash severity and the pedals on injury risk and injury type in frontal collisions. In: Proceedings of the 39th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 8-10, 1995; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:265-280. SAE 952728.

2001

Nolan JM, Lund AK. Frontal offset deformable barrier crash testing and its effect on vehicle stiffness. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2001

Kuppa S, Haffner M, Eppinger R, Saunders J. Lower extremity response and trauma assessment using the Thor-Lx/HIIIr and the Denton leg in frontal offset vehicle crashes. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2005

Saunders JW III, Prasad A. NHTSA’s frontal offset research program. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.