Occupant kinematics in low-speed frontal sled tests: Human volunteers, Hybrid III ATD, and PMHS

A total of 34 dynamic matched frontal sled tests were performed, 17 low (2.5 g, Δv = 4.8 kph) and 17 medium (5.0 g, Δv = 9.7 kph), with five male human volunteers of approximately 50th percentile height and weight, a Hybrid III 50th percentile male ATD, and three male PMHS. Each volunteer was exposed to two impulses at each severity, one relaxed and one braced prior to the impulse. A total of four tests were performed at each severity with the ATD and one trial was performed at each severity with each PMHS. A Vicon motion analysis system, 12 MX-T20 2 megapixel cameras, was used to quantify subject 3D kinematics (±1 mm) (1 kHz). Excursions of select anatomical regions were normalized to their respective initial positions and compared by test condition and between subject types. The forward excursions of the select anatomical regions generally increased with increasing severity. The forward excursions of relaxed human volunteers were significantly larger than those of the ATD for nearly every region at both severities. The forward excursions of the upper body regions of the braced volunteers were generally significantly smaller than those of the ATD at both severities. Forward excursions of the relaxed human volunteers and PMHSs were fairly similar except the head CG response at both severities and the right knee and C7 at the medium severity. The forward excursions of the upper body of the PMHS were generally significantly larger than those of the braced volunteers at both severities. Forward excursions of the PMHSs exceeded those of the ATD for all regions at both severities with significant differences within the upper body regions. Overall human volunteers, ATD, and PMHSs do not have identical biomechanical responses in low-speed frontal sled tests but all contribute valuable data that can be used to refine and validate computational models and ATDs used to assess injury risk in automotive collisions.

► Forward excursions of human volunteers, Hybrid III 50th male ATD, and PMHS. ► Matched low-speed frontal sled tests at two acceleration severities per subject. ► Forward excursions increased with acceleration severity for all subject types. ► Volunteers, ATD, and PMHS do not have identical responses at matched severities. ► Combined data from all subject types can be used to improve injury risk assessment.