Technical Paper
Experimental Analysis of Head and Neck Loads for the Out-of-Position Occupant with Single and Dual-Stage Depowered Airbags
2004-03-08
2004-01-0311
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.
