Abstract:

The national automotive safety regulations and new car assessment program（NCAP） tests in most countries in the world use the maximum chest compression of Hybrid Ⅲ dummy to evaluate the protective effect of vehicle on occupant's thorax. However， the maximum chest compression of the Hybrid Ⅲ dummy's thorax is measured at a fix point， so the measurement results are easily affected by loading position. In view of the problem， the effects of loading position on Hybrid Ⅲ dummy's chest compression are studied through the low?speed impact calibration test of dummy's thorax in this paper. The results indicate that the maximum chest compression of Hybrid Ⅲ 50^th male dummy is linearly negatively correlated（R² = 0.9554） with the deviation in the Z direction from the pendulum impact center specified in regulation. For Hybrid Ⅲ 5^th female dummy，though the impact position still has significant effects on the maximum compression of chest， but due to the effects of breast，the correlation between the maximum chest compression of female dummy's thorax and impact position is not as apparent as that of male dummy. Finally， the correlation formula between the maximum chest compression of Hybrid Ⅲ 50^th male dummy and impact position obtained in calibration test is used to correct the maximum compression of the dummy's thorax in real vehicle crash tests with two different seat belt wearing positions.

Key words: vehicle safety, crash test, pendulum impact, seat belt wearing position, chest compression, Hybrid Ⅲ dummy