Compliance Techniques for Pedestrian Protection: Feasibility Study

摘要

A study has been conducted to: (1) devise a compliance test methodology and criteria for the incorporation of potential injury mitigating modifications into the front end of motor vehicles; (2) design, fabricate, and test a candidate compliance test device; (3) demonstrate that the resulting methodology and test requirements generate structures which are consistent with the intent of the proposed compliance techniques and criteria. A pedestrian safety compliance test methodology has been developed for bumper contact with the knee/leg area, and data have been obtained that: (1) represent several kinds of recent vehicle front end designs; (2) demonstrate the flexibility available to a designer in the use of foamed polymers (e.g., polyurethane); (3) characterize the velocity and temperature sensitivities that must be considered in utilizing such design concepts. It has been shown that safety performance levels can be achieved while (1) approaching low-speed damageability capabilities; (2) using contemporary vehicle space allocation and material.