This paper presents the results of a series of thorax loading tests. The aim was to analyze the response of human surrogates in an inline frontal impact when restrained by a diagonal seatbelt. The general results of 33 tests on 20 cadavers and 42 tests on 2 different Hybrid III dummies are reported. The tests show that the energy required to fracture 6 ribs is lower than previously reported at 417 joules. They also show that the Hybrid III is twice as stiff as the cadavers tested in this mode of thorax compression. (A)
Abstract