Development of a finite element model for Hybrid III three-year-old dummy-based child restraint system safety simulation.

This research focuses on the injury potential of children seated in forward facing CRS during frontal and side impact crashes. Three testing configurations were considered in this research to quantify the injury potential in standardized testing procedures and to predict observations for validation of a numerical model. These three testing were: (i) Frontal dynamic sled tests were completed in accordance with the FMVSS 213 using a Hybrid III 3-year-old dummy in a five point CRS. (ii) A frontal full vehicle crash test was completed in accordance with the CMVSS 208 with the addition of a Hybrid III 3-year-old child dummy, seated behind the passenger seat, restrained in the identical five-point CRS. (iii) Side dynamic sled tests were conducted by NHTSA using the existing FMVSS 213 seat fixture oriented at both 90° and 45° relative to the motion of the sled buck. A half sine pulse and a scaled FMVSS 213 pulse were used in the tests. All the side impact tests were conducted at a test velocity of 32 km/h (20 mph) and a peak acceleration of 17 G\u27s. A forward-facing Hybrid III 3-year-old child dummy positioned in a CRS with LATCH and the top tether in far side configurations was used in the side impact tests. A finite element model of the child restraint seat was developed using FEMB for simulation in LS-DYNA. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2006 .W368. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-01, page: 0374. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2006