As automated driving further penetrates the market, opportunities continue to arise for new vehicle interior designs, including a wider range of seating positions. Flexible seating will require new restraint systems that are independent of the steering wheel and instrument panel. The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel seat-integrated restraint system which can accommodate a variety of seating positions. The seat-integrated restraint system was evaluated using a virtual simulation model correlated to physical sled tests. The CAE model included a generic seat, the seat-integrated belt system with a 2 kN shoulder belt load, and the new Dual Shoulder Airbag system (DSA). The DSA was mounted to the seat back on both sides of the seat. For reference, a standard system (3-point 4 kN shoulder belt load and driver airbag) was used. Occupant injury assessment reference values (IARVs) were evaluated, using the AM50_THOR model as a standard male body, and compared to IARVs from the new proposed New Car Assessment program in the U.S (US NCAP). The IARVs compared were HIC15, BrIC, Nij and Chest deflection. The load case evaluated is a full rigid-barrier frontal crash with crash pulses representing a mid-size sedan. The occupant protection was evaluated for the standard seating position (23 degrees from vertical) as well as for a reclined position (45 degrees from vertical) in two seat track positions, standard (midway between the foremost and rearmost positions) and rearmost (150mm behind standard, the rearmost position of frontal seat tracks in usual cars today). The new restraint system resulted in lower IARVs than the reference system in every case. A comparison of the standard and reclined positions revealed that every IARV was increased in the latter for both seat track positions (mid and rearmost). The new proposed airbag system has the potential to offer equivalent or lower IARVs compared to the reference system in frontal crash mode (forward-facing seat condition).
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