Search Results

A series of controlled experimental programs were conducted for the purpose of improving the motor vehicle rollover protection system. Test results reported in this paper have been previously presented in SAE Paper No.980213 [1]. Experiments tested lap belt restraints utilizing a variety of lap belt geometric and webbing slack conditions. Tests utilized in the series include dynamic and static tests and the use of test mannequins and human volunteers. In the first test program, utilizing a rigid seat, human volunteers were subjected to minus 1.0 Gz acceleration and a 95th percentile Hybrid III mannequin was subjected to minus 5.0 Gz acceleration for a variety of lap belt conditions. A second program utilized a rigid mannequin in production vehicle seats for the purpose of measuring and comparing seat belt system effective slack. Finally, the rigid mannequin from the second test and the rigid seat and lap belts from the first test were brought together and tested.

Effective slack associated with seat belt systems for rollover protection is studied for the purpose of improving or anticipating improvements to a motor vehicle rollover protection system. A test method and test devices were constructed to study and develop objective understandings of the effects of motor vehicle seat and seat belt characteristics on effective slack. The test devices and test method were proved in two separate motor vehicles with differing seat belt systems. Results demonstrated that effective slack as a conceptual equivalent to a seat belt webbing length could be repeatable and objectively determined for the systems tested. Determining a seat belt system's effective slack is useful for the purpose of comparing experimental restraints and experimental restraint testing to motor vehicle restraint design and performance.

Using analysis of a mini-van test vehicle’s static load conditions as a guide, four different vehicle loading situation were constructed. The loading situations represent the corners of the vehicle’s center of gravity position envelope. For the testing described in this paper a single vehicle under conditions of varied load was subjected to a series of test maneuvers designed to elicit objective measure and comparison of vehicle steady-state and transient response. The purpose of this paper is to describe the test method and present the results of handling testing and limit stability testing of a 1991 Ford Aerostar mini-van/extended van under four different loading conditions. Differences observed in the plotted results of vehicle steady state response for different load condition are detectable, but small. The test results demonstrate differences in vehicle transient response for different loading configuration.