A Comparison Of Hybrid III 5th Female Dummy Chest Responses In Controlled Sled Trials

The responses of a Hybrid III 5^th percentile dummy manufactured by Denton ATD were compared to a Hybrid III 5^th percentile dummy manufactured by First Technology Safety Systems (FTSS). The dummies were seated on a HYGE sled set in a representative small production sedan configuration, simulating a 60 km/h offset deformable barrier (25 g pulse) and a 22 km/h crash (11 g pulse). Three shoulder retractor anchorage positions were used to place the shoulder belt at different locations on the dummy shoulder for each of the driver (left shoulder) and passenger (right shoulder) seating positions.

Chest deflections measured from the rotary potentiometer are compared to deflections calculated from the accelerometers and are reported as a function of belt load and belt position. Repeatability is evaluated at low and high deflection levels.

There was no difference observed between the peak chest responses of the two dummies despite the fact that the anthropometry of the breasts differed rather significantly. Chest deflection was found to be strongly dependent on belt position. The implications of the results for in-vehicle dummy positioning are discussed and recommendations for further study presented.