Biomechanical Simulation for Evaluation of Alternative Rollover Occupant Protection System Designs

The evaluation of the biomechanical performance that can be expected from alternative designs for restrained occupant rollover protection was approached through the use of finite element modeling. Finite element models of vehicle designs and the Hybrid III dummy were used to evaluate elements of alternative rollover occupant protection system designs. Results from rollover crash tests of a production vehicle were used to validate the baseline models. The alternative designs were then incorporated into the vehicle designs and comparisons of various biomechanical injury measurements of the neck were made.