Title: Side sled test systems: a review

Authors: A. Kafkova; F. Lopot; J. Jelinek; M. Ruzicka

Addresses: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering CTU, Department of Designing and Machine Components, Prague, The Czech Republic ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering CTU, Department of Designing and Machine Components, Prague, The Czech Republic ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering CTU, Department of Mechanics, Biomechanics and Mechatronics, Prague, The Czech Republic ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering CTU, Department of Mechanics, Biomechanics and Mechatronics, Prague, The Czech Republic

Abstract: With the introduction of dynamic ECE-R95 and FMVSS 214 crash test requirements, there has been an increasing demand for systems enabling evaluation of performance of door and components of passive safety for side impacts without a need to perform full-scale crash tests. Full-scale crash tests result in substantive economic burden for vehicle development departments and prove to be time consuming. This review describes more than twenty side sled test systems designed for airbags, side door bars and door trim testing and the determination of their respective dynamic force-deflection characteristics. The simple sled test systems that use only one piston and do not allow door deformation are described here, as well as the sophisticated sled test systems that use multiple pistons and advanced simulation of door deformation in real time. In this review, the principle of each system is explained clearly and its advantages and disadvantages are evaluated.

Keywords: side impact; side sled test system; component testing; airbags testing; door trim testing; pole sled tests; barrier sled tests.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2024.137840

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2024 Vol.95 No.1/2, pp.100 - 113

Received: 20 Mar 2023
Accepted: 05 Sep 2023
Published online: 05 Apr 2024 *

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