A study was conducted to develop test procedures and hardware to measure the head injury potential of vehicle upper interiors. The test procedures were derived primarily from the highway accident data files. The impact velocities were derived by using median delta-v levels from injurious accidents, along with laboratory crash pulses and occupant seating information.

A number of potential approaches for upper interior testing were reviewed and one particular approach- a free motion headform (FMH), was examined. The results of Hybrid III dummy and FMH testing are compared and discussed. The results were found to agree well and the FMH was noted to accurately reflect Hybrid III head response levels.

The Hybrid III and FMH were furrher studied with math modeling. Ranges of stiffness and A-pillar angle outside those used in testing were examined with the model. Once again the FMH was noted to reasonably represent a full dummy response over the range examined.