| The three-point seat belt, standard equipment in all cars, has been widely accepted as a good cost and suffer saving cure in the past few decades. Accordingly, all over the motorized world there has been an increase in the number of people who have made buckling-up a matter of habit. However, the three-point belted occupants are still being injured in numerous crashes. This can be attributed in some extent to the increase in the average age of drivers and higher speed limits---there has been a constant pressure on the Department of transportation to increase the speed limits on many highways. This has forced the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to reconsider its initiatives on the existing restraint systems around the world. Since these crash tests are usually at higher speeds than for the legislative crash tests, restraint systems must be designed to be more efficient in minimizing or preventing occupant impacts with the vehicle interior.; This research tries to evaluate the benefit of the proposed four-point belt system by means of non-linear finite element computer simulation of frontal impacts (US-NCAP pulse) and side impact. In this thesis, frontal and side impact scenarios are evaluated for a typical earlier model sedan. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
