Evaluation of Neck Bracket Angles and Neck Torque Procedures in the Hybrid III Small Female Neck Flexion Test

Lab-to-lab differences are an important consideration in the verification testing of Hybrid III dummy necks in user labs. The authors, the Anthropomorphic test device Certification Research group (ACR), conducted and presented two previous studies investigating lab to lab differences in Hybrid III 5^th female dummy neck certification results [1, 2]. The results of both studies underscored the need to have better controls on the test procedure.

The complex procedure for dummy neck certification has many setup factors that can contribute to test variation and unacceptable precision. Two steps within this protocol - two aspects of the neck's physical setup - were identified by the ACR group as potential sources for variation: 1) setting the pre-test D-plane angle by neck bracket adjustment, and 2) setting the torque on the neck cable.

Fifth female neck flexion tests were conducted with variations in these factors to determine their effect on neck test results. In this paper the authors quantify the results of this investigation and discuss recommendations for reduction of lab-to-lab variation.