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Technical Paper

Head-Impact Testing of Polyurethane Energy-Abosrbing (EA) Foams

1997-02-24
970160
In August, 1995, the federal government enacted legislation (amendments to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 201, “Occupant Protection in Interior Impact”) which is designed to improve occupant safety by reducing head and neck injuries received during impacts with the automobile interior. This legislation is significant in that all automobiles, trucks, buses and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4535 kg (10,000 lb) or less must meet the new federal standard after the 2002 model year. The testing of potential countermeasures to this legislation (e.g., padding materials and component designs) is key towards developing materials which meet the requirements. As a result, modifications have been made to an in-house dynamic sled impact tester enabling head-impact testing to be performed. This ability allows for the coordinated development, testing and screening of energy-absorbing (EA) polyurethane foams for head-impact protection.
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