Volunteer and Dummy Head Kinematics in Low-Speed Lateral Sled Tests

Understanding human head kinematics prior to the safety countermeasure activation is important to help minimize potential for injury in side impact and rollover situations. The objective of this study was to compare three volunteers and the Hybrid III responses in three low-to-moderate lateral crash pulses. The parameters evaluated were lateral pulses and belt usage. A total of 24 tests were carried out in a side impact sled. The subjects consisted of two 50th percentile males (Volunteers 1 and 2), one 5th percentile female (Volunteer 3) and a Hybrid III 50th percentile male. All subjects were in near-side impacts. The pulses consisted of two 4 g pulses (6 and 8 kph) and a 4 g/8 kph followed by a m 2.5 g pulse to simulate a low curb impact. In the 6 and 8 kph pulses, the antropometric test devices' head trajectory is somewhat similar to the volunteers'. For near-sided/belted occupants, the peak lateral excursion was 327 - 53 mm for the volunteers, and 269 mm for the Hybrid III in the 6 kph pulse, while it...