The purpose of this study is to evaluate a First Generation Obese Anthropometric test device (FGOA), comparing its kinematic behaviour with two obese Post Mortem Human Surrogates (PMHS) in matching frontal impact sled tests.
The FGOA was built around an existing 50th percentile THOR male crash test dummy’s skeletal structure, but with unique flesh and additional mass added to the upper and lower torso and upper legs. Two 29 km/h PMHS tests, two 48 km/h PMHS tests, two 29 km/h dummy tests, and two 48 km/h dummy tests were performed with a sled buck representing the rear seat occupant component of a 2004 mid‐sized sedan.
The FGOA and PMHS exhibited similar kinematic characteristics, which have been highlighted previously as potentially challenging for restraint systems design. Most notably, both the PMHS and dummy exhibited substantial forward motion of lower body and subsequent backwards rotation of the torso, affected by limited engagement of the lap‐belt with the pelvis. Although some differences suggest that further refinement may be warranted, the similarities suggest that this dummy may prove useful as a research tool to begin investigating the challenges of, and potential strategies for, the safe restraint of obese occupants.