In 1989, the EUROSID-1 was accepted in the European regulation
ECE-R95. After a steady period of use, an upgraded version of this
dummy: ES-2 is now considered as a step towards harmonization of
side impact occupant regulations. The upgrades to the dummy
include, amongst others, a modification of its torso back plate and
a change in rib module guidance (piston-cylinder), especially to
overcome anomalous rib deflection responses referred to as
""flat-top.''
Presented here are results of lateral and oblique pendulum
tests, conducted on the EUROSID-1 and ES-2 to verify the modified
torso back plate and to study the responses of three proposed rib
module designs for ES-2. Particularly, rib deflections, rib VC
responses, and thorax force-deflection responses are analyzed.
The current study primarily addresses sensitivity of the ES-2
thorax to oblique loading. The risk of anomalous rib deflection
responses as observed in full-scale vehicle crash tests can be
greatly reduced by using a modified torso back plate and by
changing the piston-cylinder. Results presented here show that the
prototype ""needle bearing type ribs,'' developed
jointly by TNO and FTSS, eliminates the risk of flat-top in the
pendulum test conditions employed in this study. The adoption of
this rib design in ES-2 may, however, require further tuning of the
damping in order to meet biofidelity requirements, such that injury
risk on the basis of VC can be assessed appropriately.