VOLUNTEER TESTS ON HUMAN TOLERANCE LEVELS OF PRETENSION FOR REVERSIBLE SEATBELT TENSIONERS IN THE PRE-CRASH-PHASE. PHASE I RESULTS: TESTS USING A STATIONARY VEHICLE

It is the aim of this current study to define the maximum force of seatbelt pretension in the pre- crash-phase tolerable for a car passenger. This is attempted by volunteer tests using a car fitted with a prototype of a reversible system for belt pretension. The volunteers (14 f, 10 m, aged 16 to 73) represent a broad spectrum of car-users. Up to now 64 tests were conducted in a stationary vehicle to determine the tolerable strain especially under Out of Position (OOP) conditions. The head acceleration measured through accelerometers which were mounted on individually fitted dental adapters, was rather low in all tests with some increase for the OOP-experiments (Amax= 2,9 g). Belt forces were 0,16 kN Under the present test set up and conditions, the loadings were assessed by the test persons as tolerable and acceptable. In general, the belt forces measured with shorter and lightweight persons were higher than those measured with tall and heavier persons. This can be improved by a special algorithm e.g. in connection with a weight-sensor in the car seat so as to better adapt the system to the anthropometric parameters of the occupant. Key words: reversible seatbelt tensioner, safety belts, volunteers, tolerances, soft tissue

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