Analysis of Decelerator,Accelerator and Shock Cord Propelled Rebound Sleds for Evaluating Air Bag Restraints.

摘要

In contrast to a decelerator sled which comes to rest,thereby maintaining a constant velocity (zero) post impact,accelerator and shock cord propelled,impact-with-rebound sleds may decelerate immediately post-impact. The deceleration of the accelerator sled post-impact is due to frictional forces,and that of the shock cord propelled,rebound sled is due to frictional forces plus forces exerted on the sled by the shock cord. The analysis of the effect of deceleration immediately post-impact for a subject restrained only by an air bag establishes that the distance the subject translates forward in the seat is less,and that his rebound velocity against the seat is greater,than if he had been riding a decelerator sled for the same impact conditions. It is concluded that a decelerator sled is a much better simulator of a motor vehicle crash into a barrier than either an accelerator or shock cord propelled,rebound sled. (Author)