This paper presents a study characterizing the interaction between a small female upper extremity and a deploying side air bag. The results are based on 12 tests with small female cadavers, and 15 tests with the instrumented Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 5th percentile female upper extremity attached to the 5th percentile Hybrid III female dummy. Three inflator types were used that varied in peak pressure and pressure onset rate. Three upper extremity positions were chosen that maximized loading to the humerus and elbow joint. Peak humerus moments were calculated for the cadaver tests and compared to the peak humerus moments recorded by the dummy in similar positions. Despite kinematic differences between the dummy and cadaver, the moments recorded in the cadaver and dummy were similar. Chondral and osteochondral fractures in the elbow joint were recorded for seven of the twelve cadaver tests, while a simple fracture of the distal humerus head was observed in one test. A linear regression was performed to correlate occurrence of recorded injury and the test parameters. Injury risk functions were constructed for age, forearm acceleration, elbow moment, and air bag inflator level. Given the similarity between the dummy and cadaver humerus responses, the dynamic injury tolerance for the 5th percentile female humerus of 128 Nm was recommended for use with the dummy.
Abstract