Citation

Kuppa S, Saunders JW, Stammen J, Mallory A. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 2005; 2005: 8p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, In public domain, Publisher National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently published the final rule that upgrades the FMVSS No. 202 head restraint standard (69 FR 74848). The rule provides requirements that would make head restraints higher and closer to the head so as to engage the head early in the event of a rear impact. The rule also has provisions for a rear impact sled test option with a Hybrid III dummy that is intended in particular for active head restraints that do not meet the head restraint position requirements. This paper presents a whiplash injury criterion for use with the Hybrid III dummy in rear impacts and its application in rear impact tests. The injury risk curve, based on the head-to-torso rotation of the Hybrid III dummy, was developed using insurance claims data, and rear impact sled tests with the Hybrid III dummy. The feasibility of the application of this injury criterion in rear impact vehicle crash tests and sled tests has also been presented. The sled test data indicates that the developed whiplash injury criterion correctly predicts improved performance of head restraint and seat systems in the field.