Analysis of rollover restraint performance with and without seat belt pretensioner at vehicle trip

摘要

Eight rollover research tests were conducted using the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder with a modified FMVSS 208 dolly rollover test method where the driver and right front dummy restraint performance was analyzed. The rollover tests were initiated with the vehicle horizontal, not at a roll angle. After the vehicle translated laterally for a short distance, a trip mechanism was introduced to overturn the vehicle. Retractor, buckle, and latch plate performance in addition to the overall seat belt performance was analyzed and evaluated in the rollover test series. Retractor pretensioners were activated near the rollover trip in three of the tests to provide research data on its effects. Various dummy sizes were utilized. The test series experienced incomplete data collection and a portion of the analog data was not obtained. National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) data was also analyzed to quantify the characteristics of real-world rollovers and demonstrated the benefits of restraint use. Although the rollover test method yielded unrepeatable vehicle dynamics, the testing demonstrated proper restraint performance in all of the tests. In the tests with pretensioner activation, belt movement reduction compared to the non-pretensioner tests was only approximately 25 mm for the near-side occupant and 50 mm for the far-side occupant. This paper discusses these findings as well as the limitations of this research.