Some Special Analyses of Thoracic Protection in Side Impact

UPPER TORSO INJURIES by the side interior surface of motor vehicles rank first in the injury categories for all non-ejected occupants of side damaged passenger cars in non-rollover accidents. In February 1982, a paper titled, “The Role of the Side of the Motor Vehicle in Crash Protection,” Reference 1, discussed the state-of-knowledge in thoracic protection known at that time. This paper updates the state-of-knowledge in thoracic protection and offers an expansion of the analytical approach section of that paper. Occupant responses in full scale crash tests are compared with computer simulations of the crashes. Response of the occupant to variations in his clearance with the side door interior are also examined. It is concluded that thoracic injury level could possibly be reduced by proper choice of padding characteristics.