The Investigation of Upper Thorax Rib Deflections in WorldSID 50th Male ATDs in Vehicle Side Oblique Pole Tests

WorldSID dummy is currently adopted extensively in vehicle regulatory testing (1) and third party evaluation testing (2) like in EURO-NCAP and C-NCAP. As one of many side impact dummies, WorldSID dummy is a highly biofidelic, advanced side impact crash test dummy. However, as testing modes are expended, there are some of observations, which affect occupant protection negatively in side impact situations. One of the observations is that the interaction between arm and thorax rib causes excessive deflection of top thorax rib in side oblique pole impact crash with a large side airbag, which has better protection to the shoulders of an occupant. This paper will present the observation of excessive top thorax rib deflection of WorldSID dummy in a side oblique pole crash testing while no such phenomena observed in a side barrier crash testing. A study of both physical and CAE testing in a side oblique pole (75 degree to longitudinal vehicle direction) crash were carried out to investigate the influence of interaction of arm and rib on rib deflection. Meanwhile a study of effect of interaction between arm and thorax rib on top thorax rib deflection in a side oblique pole crash is completed by using several Human Body Models (HBM). The study indicates that the interaction between arm and thorax ribs has minor effect on the top thorax rib deflection.