The Importance of the Test Method in Determining the Effects of Door Padding in Side Impact

This study examines the influence of padding in thorax side impact response under free-flight impact and velocity pulse impact. It was found that padding reduces rib and spine accelerations in both types of impact. However, in free-flight impact, padding reduces chest V and VC response without significant deformation change, while in velocity pulse impact, padding reduces chest V but substantially increases VC and deformation. It appears that free-flight impact lacks spacing effect and the correct velocity profile to simulate the door/occupant impact in car-to-car side collision. On the other hand, velocity pulse impact has the essential characteristics of the door/occupant impact in car-to-car side collision and is a more suitable method for subsystem test.