Search Results

Over the last decade large safety improvements have been made in crash protection for motorsports drivers. It has been well established that in side and rear impacts the driver seat provides the primary source for occupant retention and restraint. Beginning in the 2015 season, NASCAR®'s (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc) Sprint Cup Series will require driver seats which have all seat belt restraint system anchorage locations integrated internally to the seat with a minimum of seven anchorage locations. This paper describes the development of the quasi-static test for the seat integrated seat belt restraint system portion of the NASCAR Seat Submission and Test Protocol Criteria. It reviews the methodology used to develop the testing including the developmental dynamic sled tests.

NASA is developing a new crewed vehicle and desires a lower risk of injury compared to automotive or commercial aviation. Through an agreement with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR®), an analysis of NASCAR impacts was performed to develop new injury assessment reference values (IARV) that may be more relevant to NASA's context of vehicle landing operations. Head IARVs associated with race car impacts were investigated by analyzing all NASCAR recorded impact data for the 2002-2008 race seasons. From the 4015 impact files, 274 impacts were selected for numerical simulation using a custom NASCAR restraint system and Hybrid III 50th percentile male Finite Element Model (FEM) in LS-DYNA. Head injury occurred in 27 of the 274 selected impacts, and all of the head injuries were mild concussions with or without brief loss of consciousness. The 247 noninjury impacts selected were representative of the range of crash dynamics present in the total set of impacts.

Since their introduction into NASCAR® (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.) in the early 1950s roll bars have played a vital role in protecting race car drivers from injury during crashes. Just as helmets, seats, seatbelts and a multitude of other safety enhancements have evolved and transformed racing safety, so too have roll bars. From serving as additional bracing in early stock cars, to being the primary chassis and frame system in modern NASCAR vehicles, tubular roll bars have changed dramatically. This paper summarizes extensive quasi-static testing of tubular joints. Test variables included joining method and gusset design. Also described are the material properties, engineering characteristics and joining methods currently used in modern NASCAR vehicle chassis fabrication.