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The response of a restrained car occupant to deceleration patterns recorded at barrier impacts with European compact cars is studied by using a simple model in an analog computer. In order to illustrate the general influence of restraint characteristics and slack, the occupant is defined as one solid mass and restraints are characterized by linear load-elongation functions of different stiffness. Various degrees of slack are introduced by delaying the response until a predetermined displacement has occurred between occupant and vehicle. Peak accelerations and total displacements of the occupant as a function of slack are given. The substitution of actual deceleration-time patterns from barrier impacts by simpler functions of similar shape shows that average deceleration rather than single peaks of short duration in the input function govern the response of the restrained occupant.

The level at which forces are transmitted from the striking vehicle in side impacts may influence the response of the struck car in several different ways. A better contact between the front bumper of the striking and the sill area of the struck car has been considered to be desirable in this respect. In side impacts, the most frequent direction of the impact is from 3 and 9 o'clock, while the direction of the forces is usually from 2 and 10 o'clock due to the velocity of the struck car. A European car and the EEVC moving deformable barrier have, therefore, been used in a crabbed mode to study the problem of load transfer at different levels above the ground. Volvo and Saab cars were used as targets in 55 km/h side impact with an APROD-81 side impact dummy placed on the struck side in the front seat. The results indicate that a difference in the level at which the loads were applied could influence the deformations, the kinematics of the struck cars, and the loading of the occupant.