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Results of 56 KMPH Crash Tests

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NHTSA Public MeetingBaltimore, MD.July 18, 2002

Motivation Test Set UpInjury Test Results� Driver Dummy

DiscussionConclusion

Previous testing at speed of 48 KMPH (30 MPH) with the 5th percentile showed that the 5th had greater loads than the 50th.Performance data on the 5th percentile in a 56 KMPH (35 MPH) full frontal barrier crash was lacking.Congress provided funds for NHTSA to investigate

1998 – NHTSA and Transport Canada tested the 5th percentile dummy and the 50th percentile dummy in paired 48 KMPH (30 MPH) belted full-frontal crash tests. � 5th percentile dummy experienced increased

injury measures to the neck and tibia compared to the 50th percentile dummy.

Dalmotis, D, et al., “Assessments of Air Bag Performance Based on the 5th Percentile Female Hybrid III Crash Test Dummy,” 16th ESV, 1998.

Driver and Passenger Vehicle Size Model

Air Bag Inflator Type Load Limiter Pretensioner

Civic 4 dr Dual Stage �� �� Light Sentra Single Stage �� ��

Compact Echo Single Stage �� �� Maxima Dual Stage �� �� Accord Dual Stage �� �� Medium Impala Dual Stage �� Escape Single Stage �� �� SUV

Durango Single Stage �� �� Grand Caravan Multi-Stage �� �� Minivan

Windstar Dual Stage �� ��

Frontal NCAP laboratory procedure � Vehicle weight--modified� Seating procedure--modified� Dummy paint locations--modified� Calibration

Figure 1: 50th % Driver Vs. 5th % Driver Normalized HIC 15

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DODGE FORD DODGE FORD CHEVROLET HONDA HONDA NISSAN TOYOTA NISSAN

GRANDCARAVAN

WINDSTARDURANGO ESCAP E IMP ALA ACCORD CIVIC SENTRA ECHO MAXIMA

Vehicles

Nor

mal

ized

HIC

15

50th %

5th %

F ig ure 2 : 50 t h % D rive r V s . 5 t h % D rive r N ij

0 .000 .200 .400 .600 .801.001.201.401.601.80

DODGE FOR D DODGE FOR D C HE VR OLE T HONDA HONDA NISSAN T OYOT A NISSAN

GR AND

C AR AVAN

WINDST AR DUR ANGO E SC AP E IMP ALA AC C OR D C IVIC SE NT R A E C HO MAXIMA

V e hic le s

50 th %

5th %

Nij

F ig ure 3 : 50 t h % D rive r V s . 5 t h % D rive r N o rmaliz e d N e c k Te ns io n

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1.00

1.20

DODGE FOR D DODGE FOR D CHE VR OLE T HONDA HONDA NISSAN T OYOT A NISSAN

GRAND

C AR AVAN

WINDST AR DUR ANGO E SC AP E IMP ALA ACC OR D C IVIC SE NT R A E C HO MAXIMA

V e hic le s

50 th % 5th %

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mal

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Nec

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Neither 50th nor 5th percentile driver and passenger dummies exceeded the peak neck compression values for each respective dummy. All were well below the IARV by more than 20%.

F ig ure 4 : 50 t h % D rive r V s . 5 t h % D rive r N o rmaliz e d C he s t A c c e le ra t io n

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0 .80

1.00

1.20

DODGE FOR D DODGE FOR D C HE VR OLE T HONDA HONDA NISSAN T OYOT A NISSAN

GR AND

C AR AVAN

WINDST AR DUR ANGO E SC AP E IMP ALA AC C ORD C IVIC SE NT R A E CHO MAXIMA

V e hic le s

50 th %

5th %

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mal

ized

Che

s tA

c cel

erat

ion

F ig ure 5 : 5 0 t h % D riv e r V s . 5 t h % D riv e r N o rma liz e d C he s t D is p la c e me nt

0 .0 00 .100 .2 00 .3 00 .4 00 .500 .6 00 .700 .8 00 .9 01.0 0

DODGE FOR D DODGE FOR D C HE VR OLE T HONDA HONDA NISSAN T OYOT A NISSAN

GR AND

C AR AVAN

WINDST AR DUR ANGO E SC AP E IMP ALA AC C OR D C IVIC SE NT R A E C HO MAXIMA

V e hic le s

50 th %

5th %

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mal

ized

Che

s tD

i spl

acem

e nt

F ig ure 6 : 5 0 t h % D riv e r V s . 5 t h % D riv e r N o ma liz e d Le f t F e mur C o mp re s s io n a nd R ig ht F e mur C o mp re s s io n

0 .0 00 .10

0 .2 00 .3 00 .4 00 .500 .6 00 .700 .8 00 .9 01.0 0

DODGE FOR D DODGE FOR D C HE VR OLE T HONDA HONDA NISSAN T OYOT A NISSAN

GR AND

C AR AVAN

WINDST ARDUR ANGO E SC AP E IMP ALA AC C OR D C IVIC SE NT R A E C HO MAXIMA

V e hic le s

50 th % Left Femur 5th % Left Femur

50 th % Rig ht Femur 5th % Rig ht Femur

Nor

mal

ized

Lef

t & R

ight

Fem

ur C

ompr

ess i

on

F ig ure 7 : 5 t h % D rive r Tib ia in P as s e ng e r C ars a nd LTV 's

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0 .50

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DODGE FOR D DODGE FOR D C HE VR OLE T HONDA HONDA NISSAN T OYOT A NISSAN

GR AND

C AR AVAN

WINDST AR DUR ANGO E SC AP E IMP ALA AC C OR D C IVIC SE NT R A E C HO MAXIMA

V e hic le s

Left Upper Tib ia Right Upper Tib iaLeft Lower Tib ia Right Lower Tib ia

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mal

ized

Tib

i a

F ig ure 8 : 5 0 t h % D riv e r Tib ia in P a s s e ng e r C a rs a nd LTV 's

0 .0 00 .2 00 .4 00 .6 00 .8 01.0 01.2 01.4 01.6 0

DODGE FORD FORD CHEVROLET HONDA NIS S AN TOYOTA

GRANDCARAVAN

WINDS TAR ES CAP E IMP ALA CIVIC S ENTRA ECHO

V e hic le s

Left Upp er Tib ia Rig ht Up p er Tib iaLeft Lo wer Tib ia Rig ht Lo wer Tib ia

Nor

mal

ized

Tib

i a

5th percentile driver dummy - all but 3 vehicles exceeded one of the four indices for the tibia 50th percentile driver dummy - only 4 vehicles exceeded one of these indices 5th percentile passenger dummy - all but 2 vehicles exceeded one of the four indices for the tibia 50th percentile passenger dummy - only 3 vehicles exceeded one of the tibia indices.

It appears that most vehicles would achieve dummy injury values below the IARV.In some instances, vehicles exceeded injury criteria for the 5th percentile dummy, but did not exceed injury criteria for the 50th percentile dummy. Two main players � Vehicle structure� Occupant restraint systems (seat belt, pretensioners, and

air bags)

Vehicle pulses were analyzed3 factors associated with crash management:� Dynamic crush� Maximum acceleration of the occupant compartment� Time period of the acceleration pulse

Vehicle pulses for both vehicles show:� The Grand Caravan and the Windstar have roughly the

same peak G� The Windstar peaks later in time than the Grand

Caravan

Peak G

Force vs Deflection

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[e5]

MILLIMETERS

Windstar Grand Caravan

Overall lengths of the 2 vehicles are almost the same. Bumper to firewall distance:� Windstar – 1201 mm� Grand Caravan – 725 mm

So, for about the same mass and overall length of vehicle, the Windstar has more bumper to firewall distance to absorb the crash energy than does the Grand Caravan. Then, less force is transmitted to the occupant, reducing the chance for injury.

Head Resultant

Chest Resultant

Neck Force Z

Driver shoulder belt load data for the Toyota Echo (for both the 5th and 50th percentile dummies) was analyzed to see the effect pretensioners and load limiting seat belts had on occupant performance.

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-0.025 0.000 0.025 0.050 0.075 0.100 0.125 0.150 0.175 0.200

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Time in Seconds

50th 5th

�Load limiters and their ability to function may be a key factor in reducing occupant loads

2001 – NHTSA conducted 10 belted 56 KMPH (35 MPH) frontal vehicle crash tests using the 5th percentile dummy.� 5th percentile dummy is robust and very durable� 5th percentile dummy incurred greater injury than the

50th percentile dummy, particularly for the neck and lower extremities in some vehicles tested

� Need for dummies of different stature to ensure equal protection for all occupants

Docket http://dms.dot.gov� For 5th Percentiles 10687� For NCAP Frontals 4962

Films at NCAC 703-726-8236