Incorporating the FMVSS 201U Laboratory Experience in Simulation Using IHIT

FMVSS 201U, interior head impact performance is required for each new vehicle program. In the laboratory, testing to this requirement includes laying out the target locations, defining additional robustness target points based on targeting variation, positioning the Free Motion Headform (FMH), impacting each location with the headform and measuring HIC values. The tests may involve some conservative strategies and robustness studies to protect for the worst-case scenarios, where an impact might produce the highest HIC(d) within variations of impact conditions. In order to automate the best practices and procedures for both laboratory and CAE, a process automation environment was used to develop the Interior Head Impact Toolkit (IHIT, pronounced as i-hit). The IHIT software addresses several key testing processes and is grouped into four modules. The Targeting module locates the targets consistent with “laboratory experience” methodology including assumptions and measurement techniques along uneven surfaces. The Headform Setup module takes the target module data and calculates the historical severe approach angles, setup conditions and 12mph zone. The CAE Analysis module helps to setup head impact analysis for PAMCRASH, LS-DYNA and RADIOSS solvers. The Report Generation module creates an automated report from the analysis results. A comparison of IHIT targeting results with actual test results and the benefits using IHIT will be presented.