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Side impact crashworthiness presents a complex problem mainly due to the dynamic interaction between the occupant and the vehicle during the impact. This dictates that the ‘occupant restraint system’ cannot be considered separately from the ‘crash pulse’ as is generally the case with frontal impact. The automotive industry has been seeking effective methods for side impact development of their vehicles, MIRA has introduced two such techniques. The first is called Side Impact Dynamic Emulation, or SIDE for short. This two sled system in a HyGe laboratory generates representative deformation and the correct dynamic loading of the structure and the dummy. This technique is now well established. The second is a side impact simulation technique (M-SIS). The technique accurately simulates dummy and door interaction witnessed in full scale crash tests. Seat to door, and dummy to door contacts are reproduced for each test along with the velocity profile required.

Side impact crashworthiness presents a complex problem due to the dynamic interaction between the occupant and the intruding vehicle side structure. As there is a direct impact between the occupant, and the door and B-post trim, small variations in the vehicle structural behaviour can have a significant effect on the dummy response and injury levels. Significant variability in dummy response between crash tests causes problems when evaluating the vehicle side structure and development of side impact restraint systems. A programme of research tests has been conducted at the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) using the MIRA - Side Impact System (M-SIS) technique to evaluate the dynamic response of side impact dummies in actual side impact environments. With the implementation of the European side impact legislation in 1998 the effects of variations in dummy location and velocity profile need to be understood.