Restrained occupant protection performance under rollover conditions using an intelligent rollover protection subsystem

Abstract The evaluation of the biomechanical performance that can be expected by restrained occupants from the incorporation of an intelligent rollover protection subsystem (IRPS) into a production vehicle has been conducted. This paper reports on the evaluation of such a system based on finite element modeling. Finite element models of vehicle designs and the Hybrid III dummy were used to evaluate the subsystem under manufacturer-created rollover conditions for a production roof structure. Results from a rollover crash test of a production vehicle were utilized to validate the model, using the production vehicle crash test. The IRPS design was then integrated with the production vehicle and the results were compared with the baseline neck biomechanical injury measures. Neck loads were utilized to validate the model against the test results. The results of the study show that the IRPS resulted in substantial reduction of head and neck loads with the production roof and even greater reductions with a strengthened roof. The results illustrate opportunities available to improve rollover crashworthiness performance for restrained occupants.

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