A64 km/h offset frontal crash test was conducted with the THOR-NT and Hybrid III to investigate the responses of both dummies under a crash situation that includes both deformation and rotational behavior of a vehicle. Though the dummies were installed in the driver seat according to the ECE R94 positioning procedure, their postures were slightly different. The head and heels of the THOR-NT were positioned rearward. Similarly, the shoulders and knees were positioned forward compared to the Hybrid-III. Therefore,it is expected that these differences will affect the responses of both dummies. During the tests, both dummies showed similar kinematics, except for the rotation about Z-axis of the head, and the contact situation to theinstrument panel of the arms. For the injury measures, the chest acceleration of the THOR-NT showed sharp inclination at 100ms to 120ms, presumed to be caused by the contact between the arms and instrument panel. The initial time history curve of the lap belt force was approximately the same between both dummies; however, the maximum force of the THOR-NT was less than half of the Hybrid III. For this difference, it was strongly presumed that more kinetic energy was absorbed by the knee bolster for the THOR-NT since its longer femur shortened the initial clearance between the knee and knee bolster. In addition, it was also presumed that the difference of theflesh characteristics around the iliac wing between both dummies affectedthe results. The injury measures of both dummies were compared to the injury criteria specified in FMVSS 208 and ECE R94. As for the results, almost equivalent values between the two dummies were observed. Moreover, as reference, the additional injury measures in the THOR-NT are shown in this paper. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0268.pdf For the covering abstract see ITRD E145407.
Abstract