Repeatability of Setup and Stability of Anthropometric Landmarks and Their Influence on Impact Response of Automotive Crash Test Dummies

Dummy positioning repeatability, dynamic stability during runup to crash speeds and the sensitivity of dummy crash response were investigated using precision (forced indexing) and conventional (self-centering) setup procedures. The static repeatability and dynamic stability tests were performed in ten domestic and imported production vehicles. The sensitivity of dummy response to setup methods was investigated in sled tests. Test results indicate that the precision procedure causes higher levels of static dispersion and dynamic instability of anthropometric landmarks of dummies setup in production vehicles and only marginally improved dummy response in the HI-G sled environment.