Comparison Between Frontal Impact Tests with Cadavers and Dummies in a Simulated True Car Restrained Environment

A test series of 12 fresh cadavers and 5 Part 572 dummies is reported. The test configuration is frontal impact sled simulation at 30 mph and aims to simulate the restraint environment of a Volvo 240 car. The test occupants are restrained in a 3-point safety belt. The instrumentation of the surrogates involves mainly 12-accelerometers in chest, 9-accelerometers in head and 3-accelerometers in pelvis. Measured values are given and discussed together with the medical findings from the cadaver tests. The occurence of submarining with cadavers and dummies is reported. A comparison is also made with earlier work where both field accidents and sled simulatations of similar violence have been reported. It is concluded that there exist differences in kinematics between the dummy and the cadaver, although peak chest acceleration is similar in both conditions. The lap belt slides over the iliac crest more frequently in the cadaver tests than in the dummy tests. However, no abdominal injuries were found. The pattern of the observed injuries on the cadavers are similar to what has been earlier reported, although the severity is higher than in comparable field accidents.