Search Results

Airbag induced injuries to front seated infants and children have resulted in US government recommendations that suggest, among other things, the placement of children into the rear seat area of motor vehicles. During a rear impact, however, most conventional automotive front seats occupied by adults will collapse into the rear seat area. This exposes the rear-seated children to other risks of injuries. Rearward load strength tests run on a wide variety of commercially available automotive front seat systems, such as the single or dual sided recliner types and the stronger belt integrated types, demonstrate a wide range of occupant load resistance. Digital human simulation offers a cost effective, efficient, and accurate means for predicting occupant response and interactions influenced by various types of non-linear deforming seat systems, as well as various types of restraints, and vehicle interior structures.

This study measures the head and neck responses of a 50th percentile Hybrid III dummy subject to the deployment of a dual-stage driver airbag using the first stage only. Since the airbag is deployed using the first-stage only, the tests are representative of low-severity collisions where airbag deployment is warranted. This would correspond to a rigid barrier test for a belted driver at a speed greater than 14 mph and less than 30 mph. The responses are compared with equivalent deployments of single-stage ‘depowered’ driver airbags. The airbag modules used in this study were taken from two similar sized production vehicles of the same model year that were produced by the same manufacturer. The occupant was placed in a position with the head 9 - 9.5 cm from the steering wheel. The objective was to investigate how a dual-stage production airbag reduced neck loading on an occupant who was in close proximity to a deploying airbag. Six tests were performed; three for each airbag type.