Performance Enhancement of the Hybrid III Thorax

The current Hybrid III Thorax is capable of thoracic deflections up to a maximum of approximately 3 inches. A modified double rib design which allows deflections up to 3.5 inches is proposed and experimentally evaluated. In addition to this increased deflection capability, a Hybrid III thorax utilizing the double rib design exhibited reduced temperature sensitivity and increased durability. Thus the double rib design allows the Hybrid III to become a more repeatable, more durable anthropomorphic test device which may also assess more severe levels of thoracic injury.