Through a contract from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), EASi Engineering in conjunction with Johnson Controls InC.(JCI) is working to conceive and develop an advanced integrated structural seat that meets the current FMVSS requirements and significantly improves occupant protection for frontal, rear, side and rollover accidents and contributes to passenger compartment intrusion resistance. This work is a cooperative effort between the government and industry, bringing together the strengths of impact biomechanics, computer aided engineering and seat systems engineering and manufacturing.

This paper summarizes the advanced integrated structural seat criteria used, the design concepts evolved and adapted thus far as part of this ongoing research, the evaluation of the design concepts using various computer aided engineering (CAE) methodologies, and the resulting changes in occupant crash protection. Concept level models were created primarily through use of the MADYMO software to establish potential benefits. Further design evolution and evaluation were achieved via detailed finite element models and coupled models using LS-DYNA3D and LS-DYNA3D/MADYMO coupling. The design concepts studied include rolloversensing seat belt pretensioners and extended head rest frames for improved rollover protection, belt load limiters for improved frontal crash protection, energy absorbing dual recliners, strengthened seat back wing structures for improved side impact protection and side intrusion resistance. This study does not include seat mounted side airbags as they have been explored already (Pilhali et. Al.) and are in production.