Title: Basic parameters affecting child occupant responses in side impact

Authors: Yasuhiro Sasaki, Masatomo Yamaguchi, Koji Mizuno

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan

Abstract: The International Standard Organization proposed a child restraint system (CRS) side impact test in which the door panel impacts the CRS on the sled. In the present study, parameters that should be considered in CRS side impact sled test were examined based on finite element (FE) analysis. A full car side impact simulation with a Hybrid III three-year-old (3YO) and a child FE model seated in the CRS was conducted to obtain the baseline occupant response in the side impact. Then, sled test simulations using the Hybrid III 3YO were conducted by changing various parameters such as car acceleration, door deformation and seatbelt to reproduce the occupant response in the full-car side impact. It was shown that the chest and pelvis acceleration were influenced by the door intrusion, whereas the head acceleration was also influenced by the car acceleration.

Keywords: CRS; child restraint systems; side impact; sled tests; crash dummy; FEM; finite element method; vehicle accidents; vehicle safety; simulation; occupant response; car acceleration; door deformation; seatbelts; chest acceleration; pelvis acceleration; door intrusion; head acceleration; children.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2009.032758

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2009 Vol.4 No.4, pp.300 - 314

Received: 25 Aug 2009
Accepted: 02 Oct 2009

Published online: 19 Apr 2010 *

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