In 1988, the European car manufacturers represented by the CCMC, decided to promote an altemative method to full-scale side impact testing. Since this altemative method is a combination of testing and computer evaluation, it is called Composite Test Procedure (CTP). It was presented at the meeting with the EC Commission and Government representativesa nd the CCMC Car Technical Commission in Brussels on 28 April 1988.

A major advantage of the CTP over the current full-scale tests is that with the CTP there is no need for a mechanical dummy. In the CTP, occupant loading is evaluated by means of a mathematical "dummy". Since the properties of a mathematical dummy are free of scatter, the repeatibility of the CTP promises to be superior to that of the full-scale test.

Mechanical dummies considered thus far for use in fullscale tests have proved unsatisfactory in terms of biomechanical response. CCMC therefore believes that a mathematical occupant is better suited to provide humanlike behaviour. In orderto achieve this goal, a more sophisticated occupant model is being implemented in the CTP.

Although the CTP's ultimate goal is humanlike response, it has to be demonstrated that the CTP can produce results equivalent to those obtained in dynamic tests with a physical dummy. This can be done by comparing the full-scale test results to the equivalent CTP results.

A very recent development of the CTP is the Computer Controlled CTP (CC-CTP). This approach nor only represents the full-scale test better but also simplifies the whole test procedure. This paper describes the CTP's state of advancement and how the CC-CTP works.