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The literature contains a wide range of response data describing the biomechanics of isolated body regions. Current data for the validation of frontal anthropomorphic test devices and human body computational models lack, however, a detailed description of the whole-body response to loading with contemporary restraints in automobile crashes.

Whole-body kinematics of the finite element human body model THUMS was evaluated by means of sled tests. A model of a crash test dummy (Hybrid-III 50%-ile) was used to validate the test environment by matching the model predictions to the experimentally measured dummy sled test responses. Once the environment was validated, the THUMS model was placed in the sled model and the post mortem human subject (PMHS) sled tests were replicated. Two test configurations were used for the evaluation. One configuration was high impact velocity sled tests with an advanced restraint system. The other configuration was low impact velocity sled tests with a basic restraint system. The test velocities were 48 km/h and 29 km/h respectively. The evaluation was carried out by an objective rating method that compared predictions from the model to results from the mechanical tests. The method assessed the peak level, peak timing and curve shapes of the predictions relative to the test results.

Rear seat adult occupant protection is receiving increased attention from the automotive safety community. Recent anthropomorphic test device (ATD) studies have suggested that it may be possible to improve kinematics and reduce injuries to rear seat occupants in frontal collisions by incorporating shoulder-belt force-limiting and pretensioning (FL+PT) technologies into rear seat 3-point belt restraints. This study seeks to further investigate the feasibility and potential kinematic benefits of a FL+PT rear seat, 3-point belt restraint system in a series of 48 kmh frontal impact sled tests (20 g, 80 ms sled acceleration pulse) performed with post mortem human surrogates (PMHS). Three PMHS were tested with a 3-point belt restraint with a progressive (two-stage) force limiting and pretensioning retractor in a sled buck representing the rear seat occupant environment of a 2004 mid-sized sedan.