Passenger Air Bag Linear Impactor Dynamic Testing Method and Data Analysis

In order to quantify the dynamic restraint capability of a passenger airbag, a sub-system test method has been developed. The sub-system included a passenger airbag, an adjustable generic instrument panel (IP) and an adjustable windshield. The test was called the Passenger Air Bag Linear Impactor Test (PABLIT). This test method could be used for not only A to B comparisons, but also to evaluate the performance of any PAB module design in general, including performance variability of airbag systems. A variety of impactor, pendulum and drop tower test methods are currently used by inflatable restraint suppliers. PABLIT was aimed to standardize airbag testing and data analysis. Various production hardware designs were tested to investigate the characteristics of the sub-assemblies that provide restraint capability. The PABLIT test could be used to assess the variability in the PAB modules, optimize inflator and airbag cushion designs, evaluate new venting technologies and calibrate CAE models. This may reduce the number of sled and barrier tests. A similar setup could also be used to investigate out of position characteristics of passenger airbags.