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An air bag on collapsible dashpanel (ABCD) passive restraint system concept was researched, developed, and demonstrated at Calspan. Elements of the ABCD system are: a collapsible dashpanel which is positioned within steering wheel distance or greater of the occupant to absorb the primary portion of the kinetic energy of the occupant-vehicle interaction, and two small air bags which deploy at speeds above 20 MPH, to distribute chest contact forces and control head motions. A crushable kneebar is used for lower torso restraint. The Calspan 3-D Crash Victim Simulation was used as a preliminary design tool in developing the concept. Component tests of the collapsible dashpanel were conducted on the Calspan linear accelerator impactor. Sled tests were conducted to refine the restraint system design and to evaluate the performance of the restraint system with respect to accepted injury criteria.

The airbag simulation program DRACR has been revised to include belt routines. The amended program is used to indicate optimal choice of parameters for a driver supplementary airbag system. As a validation, results from sled tests are given and compared with the computer runs. A good agreement is found for the values of the most essential protection criteria such as chest g's and HIC's. The model has proven to be useful in the engineering process of an airbag restraint system. The interrelationship between important input variables is easily studied. Further validation of the model by other teams is encouraged

Investigations were performed to determine for oblique impacts the occupant kinematic protection limits afforded by full front seat air bags installed in a subcompact car. Techniques used in this investigation included three-dimensional crash victim simulation modeling (CAL-3D model), the use of the NHTSA developed passenger air cushion (DJPAC) simulation program, and the design, installation and testing of production component driver and passenger air bag systems in a compact car. The results of this program demonstrate that occupants of the subject small car can be protected by air bag restraints in 45° oblique principal direction of force (PDOF) impacts up to 30 mph barrier equivalent velocity.