Details are given of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's(NHTSA) initial research to evaluate potential child side impact test procedures. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, "Child Restraint Systems" currently only requires that U.S. marketed child restraints meet dynamic testing simulating a 48.3 kph (30 mph) frontal impact. NHTSA is evaluating test parameters and potential methodologies to replicate arepresentative side impact scenario that could potentially be developed into a future child restraint dynamic side impact test procedure. This paper will discuss (1) testing conducted using the side impact sled buck designed by TK HOLDINGS INC. (Takata), and (2) side impact moving deformable barrier (MDB) into vehicle crash tests, which were performed in an effort torefine sled buck test parameters. This study is limited to one generic sled test buck design concept and side impact tests involving small passenger vehicles. It was observed that the sled buck concept was repeatable and able to distinguish between child restraint system (CRS) models. The design of the CRSs' seat back side wing is an important element for providing side impact protection, particularly when impact angles are varied. Trends in injury response values between sled and crash tests were similar for the two CRS models used in both types of testing. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0539.pdf For the covering abstract see ITRD E145407.
Abstract