The Importance of the Test Method in Determining the Effects of Door Padding in Side Impact 892429

This study examines the influence of padding in thorax side impact response under free-flight impact and velocity pulse impact. It was found that padding reduces rib and spine accelerations in both types of impact. However, in free-flight impact, padding reduces chest V and VC response without significant deformation change, while in velocity pulse impact, padding reduces chest V but substantially increases VC and deformation. It appears that free-flight impact lacks spacing effect and the correct velocity profile to simulate the door/occupant impact in car-to-car side collision. On the other hand, velocity pulse impact has the essential characteristics of the door/occupant impact in car-to-car side collision and is a more suitable method for subsystem test.