[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35170-35182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17138]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 572
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-3972]
RIN 2127-AG76
Anthropomorphic Test Dummy; Occupant Crash Protection
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend 49 CFR part 572 by adding
design and performance specifications for a new, more advanced 6-year-
old child dummy. The agency believes that the new dummy, part of the
family of Hybrid III test dummies, is more representative of humans
than the existing 6-year-old child dummy specified by the agency, and
allows the assessment of more types of potential injuries. The new
dummy is especially needed to evaluate the effects of air bag
deployment on children, but would also provide greater and more useful
information in a variety of environments to better evaluate child
safety. Adding the dummy to part 572 would be the first step toward
using the dummy to evaluate the safety of air bags for children. The
issue of specifying use of the dummy in determining compliance with
performance test requirements, e.g., as part of the agency's occupant
protection standard and/or child restraint standard, will be addressed
in future rulemakings.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 28, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number, and be submitted
to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20590 (Docket hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For nonlegal issues: Stan Backaitis,
Office of Crashworthiness Standards (telephone: 202-366-4912). For
legal issues: Edward Glancy, Office of the Chief Counsel (202-366-
2992). Both can be reached at the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On November 14, 1991, NHTSA published in the Federal Register (56
FR 57830) a final rule establishing specifications and performance
criteria for a test dummy representing a 6-year-old child. The
specifications and performance criteria were set forth as subpart I of
49 CFR part 572. The agency explained that adding the subpart I 6-year-
old child dummy to part 572 was a possible first step toward using the
dummy to test the compliance of booster seats and other types of child
restraint systems as part of Safety Standard No. 213, Child Restraint
Systems. The agency subsequently added the dummy to Standard No. 213 in
a final rule published in the Federal Register (60 FR 35126) on July 6,
1995.
In these rulemakings, NHTSA recognized that a more advanced 6-year-
old child dummy was under development, and the possible future
desirability of adopting such a dummy. In commenting on the agency's
proposal to add the subpart I dummy to Standard No. 213, the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) suggested that the agency
instead add a 6-year-old child dummy based on the 50th percentile male
Hybrid III dummy. AAMA stated that this dummy had improved
anthropometric emulation, more human-like response, and superior
instrumentation capability.
NHTSA explained its decision to adopt the Subpart I 6-year-old
child dummy, rather than a more advanced dummy, as follows:
The issue of whether NHTSA should adopt the Hybrid III 6-year-
old dummy instead of the (Subpart I) dummy was addressed in the NPRM
and in the rule adopting the 6-year-old dummy specifications into
part 572. NHTSA's position has been that, while the Hybrid III dummy
might have potential advantages over the (Subpart I) dummy in the
number of injury parameters the dummies can measure, rulemaking on
the latter dummy should not be delayed pending assessment of the
performance of the new dummy. NHTSA stated in the part 572 final
rule:
The (Subpart I) dummy's ability to measure HIC, chest
acceleration and femur loads, and its ability to replicate the
motions and excursions of a child in a crash are sufficient to
provide valid assessment of the injury potential of child restraint
systems in a reliable manner. Since the (Subpart I) dummy is ready
now, and a final rule specifying the dummy will help improve safety,
the agency believes it is appropriate to proceed with adding the
dummy to part 572.
Likewise, NHTSA believes rulemaking adopting use of a 6-year-old
dummy in Standard 213 compliance tests should not be delayed pending
evaluation of the suitability and availability of the dummy as a
test
[[Page 35171]]
device. Such evaluation will be undertaken in the near future.
60 FR 35129-30.
While the desirability of a more advanced 6-year-old child dummy
has been apparent for a number of years, the need for such a dummy has
become more urgent with the emergence of the safety problems current
air bags pose for out-of-position children. Experience in using the
subpart I dummy has shown it to be adequate for the purpose of
evaluating child restraints for the injury criteria and test conditions
specified by Standard No. 213, but limited with respect to the types of
injury risks it can measure, particularly in an air bag environment.
For example, the neck of the subpart I dummy is not of multi-
segment design. Accordingly, it has less biofidelity in areas such as
impact responses in flexion and extension motion. Since neck injury is
one of the primary causes of fatalities to out-of-position children
from air bags, biofidelity is needed in these areas to evaluate the
effects of air bag deployment on children.
By contrast, the more advanced Hybrid III 6-year-old child dummy
(hereafter referred to as the H-III6C dummy) incorporates improved
biofidelity and extended measurement capability in many areas,
including those discussed above. Because of the greater biofidelity and
extended measurement capability of the H-III6C dummy, it can be used to
evaluate the safety of children in a much wider array of environments
than the Subpart I dummy, including assessing the effects of air bag
deployment on out-of-position children. The agency notes that the H-
III6C dummy is the only advanced 6-year-old child dummy that has been
developed to date.
The H-III6C dummy is part of a family of Hybrid III-type dummies.
The first Hybrid III dummy was a 50th percentile male dummy. NHTSA has
specified use of this dummy for compliance testing under Standard No.
208, Occupant Crash Protection, since 1986, initially on an optional
basis, and more recently on a mandatory basis.
The need for a family of Hybrid III-type dummies having
considerably improved biofidelity and anthropometry was recognized by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1987 when it
awarded a contract to Ohio State University under the title
``Development for Multi-sized Hybrid III Based Dummy Family.'' At that
time, the funding covered only the development of a small female and a
large male dummy. However, CDC provided additional funding in 1989 to
develop a design foundation for a Hybrid III type 6-year-old child
dummy.
Development of the H-III6C has continued since then under the
guidance of the Hybrid III Dummy Family Task Force of SAE. NHTSA has
also been involved with development of the dummy, initially as an
observer in meetings of the SAE Task Force. As the development of the
dummy approached maturity, the agency began to prefer the use of the
dummy in its research programs, because of its advanced instrumentation
capability and better biofidelity.
NHTSA began substantial use of the H-III6C dummy in late 1994.
However, it found that inconsistencies in impact response and
durability problems necessitated modifications. This prevented the
agency from conducting an assessment of the dummy's capabilities as an
objective and stable test tool and its ability to function in a variety
of impact environments without structural deficiencies. The agency
advised the SAE Task Force of its interest in seeing the dummy
development accelerate and be brought to a quick conclusion because of
the need to support air bag safety assessment and better evaluation of
new child restraints. Subsequent testing of the dummy revealed
additional problems requiring additional redesigns in the neck and
thorax areas, which stretched the first availability of preproduction
dummies into midsummer 1997. At that time, the agency began an
extensive test and evaluation program of the dummy.
The agency has now completed its evaluation of the H-III6C dummy
and has tentatively concluded that it is ready for incorporation into
part 572. NHTSA is placing in the docket a technical report entitled
``Development and Evaluation of the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Child
Dummy.'' That report provides the technical information supporting this
rulemaking.
Accordingly, the agency is proposing specifications and performance
criteria for the H-III6C dummy. The specifications would consist of the
following three items:
(1) A drawings and specifications package entitled ``Drawings and
Specifications for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Dummy (May 1998)'';
(2) A user's manual entitled ``User's Manual for the Hybrid III 6-
Year-Old Dummy [a date would be inserted in the final rule]''; and
(3) A document entitled ``Printout of Descriptions of Patterns and
Molds for the Hybrid III 6-Year Old Dummy in Digital Form [a date would
be inserted in the final rule]'';
These specifications are intended to ensure that the dummies are
uniform in their construction and capable of uniform and repeatable
response in the impact environment. The agency notes that the first
item listed above, the drawings and specifications, will be available
for inspection in NHTSA's docket. (Since this item is non-scannable, it
cannot be placed in the DOT Dockets Management System (DMS). Instead a
statement indicating where it may be viewed, i.e., in NHTSA's docket,
will be placed in the DMS.) Copies may also be obtained from
Reprographic Technologies, 9000 Virginia Manor Road, Beltsville, MD
20705; Telephone: (301) 210-5600.
The user's manual and digital descriptions of patterns and molds
will not be available until the time of the final rule. The user's
manual will be similar to the user's manual specified by part 572 for
other dummies.
As with other dummies, NHTSA is proposing impact performance
criteria to serve as calibration checks, and to further assure the
kinematic uniformity of the dummy and the absence of damage from
previous use. The tests address head, neck, thorax and femur impact
responses and stiffness assessments of the lumbar spine-abdomen area to
torso flexion motion.
The agency is proposing generic specifications for all of the
dummy-based sensors. For most earlier dummies, the agency specified
sensors by make and model. However, NHTSA believes that approach is
unnecessarily restrictive.
The generic specifications that the agency is proposing include (1)
the uniaxial piezoresistive accelerometer designated as SA572-S4, (2)
force and moment transducers: upper neck SA572-S11, lumbar spine SA572-
S12, anterior-superior iliac spine load cell SA572-S13, single axis
femur load cell SA572-S10, and (3) the thorax-based chest deflection
potentiometer SA572-51. The proposed specifications essentially reflect
the characteristics of the sensors used in NHTSA's dummy evaluation
series that are identified by make and model in the above referenced
technical report ``Development and Evaluation of the Hybrid III 6-year-
old Child Dummy.'' Specifications for these sensors are included in the
drawing package. Interested persons are encouraged to comment on the
adequacy of the proposed specifications; potential impact on the
measured test data, including the comparability of data using sensors
manufactured by different companies; and issues related to calibration
assurance tests.
[[Page 35172]]
NHTSA notes that the H-III6C dummy is the first of several new
dummies it will propose to add to part 572. Later this year, the agency
plans to propose adding an advanced 3-year-old child dummy, the CRABI
12 month old child dummy, and the Hybrid III 5th percentile female
adult dummy. The agency intends to use these dummies in its rulemaking
for advanced air bags. All of these dummies could be specified for use
in a variety of potential Standard No. 208 tests, including static out-
of-position tests and/or various dynamic tests. The child dummies could
also be specified for use in Standard No. 213 tests.
This notice only concerns the H-III6C dummy, and is only proposing
to add the dummy to part 572. The issue of specifying the use of the H-
III6C dummy as part of Standard No. 208 or Standard No. 213 will be
addressed in future rulemakings However, since one of the primary
purposes of adding the dummy to part 572 is to enable it to be
specified for use in the Federal motor vehicle safety standards, NHTSA
encourages commenters to address its suitability for the types of tests
discussed above. The agency also encourages commenters to address the
dummy's suitability with respect to measuring potential injury
criteria.1
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\1\ For information concerning potential injury criteria, see
NHTSA Event Report, ``Techniques for Developing Child Dummy
Protection Reference Values,'' Docket No. NHTSA-1996-1772-70, and
SAE Human Biomechanics and Simulation Standards Committee comments
concerning that report, Docket No. NHTSA-1996-1772-94.
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Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
A. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
NHTSA has considered the impact of this rulemaking action under
Executive Order 12866 and the Department of Transportation's regulatory
policies and procedures. This rulemaking document was not reviewed by
the Office of Management and Budget under E.O. 12866, ``Regulatory
Planning and Review.'' The rulemaking action has been determined not to
be significant under the Department's regulatory policies and
procedures.
This document proposes to amend 49 CFR part 572 by adding design
and performance specifications for a new, more advanced 6-year old
child dummy which the agency may later separately propose for use in
the Federal motor vehicle safety standards. If this proposed rule
becomes final, it would affect only those businesses which choose to
manufacture or test with the dummy. It does not impose any requirements
on anyone.
The cost of an uninstrumented H-III6C dummy is approximately
$30,000. Instrumentation would add approximately $25,000 to $41,000 to
the cost, depending on the amount of instrumentation.
Because the economic impacts of this proposal are so minimal, no
further regulatory evaluation is necessary.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
NHTSA has considered the effects of this rulemaking action under
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) I hereby certify
that the proposed amendment would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The proposed
amendment would not impose or rescind any requirements for anyone.
Therefore, it would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
C. National Environmental Policy Act
NHTSA has analyzed this proposed amendment for the purposes of the
National Environmental Policy Act and determined that it would not have
any significant impact on the quality of the human environment.
D. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)
The agency has analyzed this proposed amendment in accordance with
the principles and criteria set forth in Executive Order 12612. NHTSA
has determined that the proposed amendment does not have sufficient
federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism
Assessment.
Request for Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on this proposal.
Two copies should be submitted.
All comments must not exceed 15 pages in length (49 CFR 553.21).
Necessary attachments may be appended to these submissions without
regard to the 15-page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage
commenters to detail their primary arguments in a concise fashion.
If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim
of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and two
copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been
deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for
confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth
the information specified in the agency's confidential business
information regulation. 49 CFR part 512.
All comments received by NHTSA before the close of business on the
comment closing date indicated above will be considered, and will be
available for examination in the docket at the above address both
before and after that date. To the extent possible, comments filed
after the closing date will also be considered. Comments received too
late for consideration in regard to this action will be considered as
suggestions for further rulemaking action. Comments will be available
for inspection in the docket. The NHTSA will continue to file relevant
information as it becomes available in the docket after the closing
date, and recommends that interested persons continue to examine the
docket for new material.
Those persons desiring to be notified upon receipt of their
comments in the rules docket should enclose a self-addressed, stamped
postcard in the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving the
comments, the docket supervisor will return the postcard by mail.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 572
Motor vehicle safety.
In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA proposes to amend 49 CFR
part 572 as follows:
PART 572--ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DUMMIES
1. The authority citation for part 572 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1392, 1407; delegation of authority at 49
CFR 1.50.
2. 49 CFR part 572 would be amended by adding a new subpart N,
consisting of Secs. 572.120-572.129, to read as follows:
Subpart N--Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Child
Sec.
572.120 Incorporation by reference.
572.121 General description.
572.122 Head assembly and test procedure.
572.123 Neck assembly and test procedure.
572.124 Thorax assembly and test procedure.
572.125 Lumbar spine, abdomen, and pelvis assembly and test
procedure.
572.126 Knees and knee impact test procedure.
572.127 Test conditions and instrumentation.
Subpart N--Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Child
Sec. 572.120 Incorporation by reference.
(a) The following materials are hereby incorporated in this subpart
N by reference:
(1) A drawings and specifications package entitled ``Drawings and
[[Page 35173]]
Specifications for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Dummy (May 1998)'';
(2) A user's manual entitled ``User's Manual for the Hybrid III 6-
Year-Old Dummy [a date will be inserted in the final rule]'';
(3) A document entitled ``Printout of Descriptions of Patterns and
Molds for the Hybrid III 6-Year Old Dummy in Digital Form [a date will
be inserted in the final rule]'';
(4) SAE Recommended Practice J211, Rev. Mar95 ``Instrumentation for
Impact Tests'';
(5) SAE J1733 of 1994-12, ``Sign Convention for Vehicle Crash
Testing.''
(6) The Director of the Federal Register approved those materials
incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51. Copies of the materials may be inspected at NHTSA's Docket
Section, 400 Seventh Street S.W., room 5109, Washington, DC, or at the
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite
700, Washington, DC.
(b) The incorporated materials are available as follows:
(1) The drawings and specifications package referred to in
paragraph (a)(1) of this section and the user's manual referred to in
paragraph (a)(2) of this section are available from Reprographic
Technologies, 9000 Virginia Manor Road, Beltsville, MD 20705 (301) 210-
5600.
(2) The printout of the descriptions of patterns and molds for the
Hybrid III 6-Year Old Dummy in digital form referred to in paragraph
(a)(1)(3) of this section is available from NHTSA's Docket Section.
(3) The SAE materials referred to in paragraphs (a)(4) and (a)(5)
of this section are available from the Society of Automotive Engineers,
Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096.
Sec. 572.121 General description.
(a)(1) The Hybrid III 6-year-old dummy consists of the components
and assemblies that are described by ``Drawings and Specifications for
the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Dummy (May 1998).'' The complete assembly of
the dummy is shown in drawing 127-0000. The component assemblies, and
their drawing numbers, are listed in the following Table A:
Table A
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Component assembly Drawing No.
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Head Assembly............................ 127-1000
Neck Assembly............................ 127-1015
Upper Torso Assembly..................... 127-2000
Lower Torso Assembly..................... 127-3000
Leg Assembly............................. 127-4000
Arm Assembly............................. 127-5000
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(2) These drawings, and all other drawings referred to in this
subpart by the term ``drawing'' followed by a number, are contained in
``Drawings and Specifications for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Dummy (May
1998).''
(b) Disassembly, inspection, and assembly procedures are set forth
in ``User's Manual for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Dummy [a date will be
inserted in the final rule]'';
(c) The patterns and molds are described by ``Printout of
Descriptions of Patterns and Molds for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Dummy
in Digital Form [a date will be inserted in the final rule]'';
(d) Adjacent segments are joined in a manner such that except for
contacts existing under static conditions, there is no contact between
metallic elements throughout the range of motion or under simulated
crash impact conditions.
(e) The structural properties of the dummy are such that the dummy
conforms to this Part in every respect both before and after its use in
any test similar to those specified in Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash
Protection and Standard No. 213, Child Restraint Systems.
Sec. 572.122 Head assembly and test procedure.
(a) Head assembly. The head consists of the assembly shown in
drawing 127-1000, six axis neck transducer structural replacement
(drawing 78051-383X), head to neck pivot pin (drawing 78051-339) and 3
accelerometers (drawing SA-572 S4) mounted in conformance to drawing
127-1550.
(b) When the head assembly in paragraph (a) of this section is
dropped from a height of 376.0+/-1.0 mm (14.8+/-0.04 in) in accordance
with paragraph (c) of this section the peak resultant acceleration at
the location of the accelerometers at the head CG shall not be less
than 245 G and more than 300 G. The resultant acceleration vs. time
history curve shall be unimodal; oscillations occurring after the main
pulse are less than 10 percent of the peak resultant acceleration. The
lateral acceleration shall not exceed 15 g's (zero to peak).
(c) Head test procedure. The test procedure for the head is as
follows:
(1) Soak the head assembly in a controlled environment with a
temperature from 18.9 to 25.6 deg.C (66 to 78 deg.F) and a relative
humidity from 10 to 70 percent for at least four hours prior to a test.
(2) Prior to the test, clean the impact surface of the skin and the
impact surface of the steel plate with isopropyl alcohol,
trichloroethane, or an equivalent. The skin of the head must be clean
and dry for testing.
(3) Suspend the head assembly as shown in Figure N1. The lowest
point on the forehead is 376.0+/-1.0 mm (14.8 +/-0.04 in) from the
impact surface and the head is oriented to an incline of 62 +/-1 deg.
between the plane of the lower surface of the six axis transducer or
its structural replacement and the plane of the impact surface. The
1.57 mm (0.062 in.) diameter holes located on either side of the
dummy's head are used to ensure that the head is level with respect to
the impact surface.
(4) Drop the head assembly from the specified height by means that
ensures a smooth, instant release onto a rigidly supported flat
horizontal steel plate which is 50.4 mm (2 in) thick and 610 mm (24 in)
square. The impact surface shall be clean, dry and have a micro finish
of not less than 203.2 x 10-6 mm (8 micro inches) (RMS)
and not more than 2032.0 x 10-6 mm (80 micro inches)
(RMS).
(5) Allow at least 2 hours between successive tests on the same
head.
Sec. 572.123 Neck assembly and test procedure.
(a) The neck assembly consists of the assembly of components shown
in drawing 127-1015.
(b) Neck assembly. When the head-neck assembly, consisting of the
head shown in drawing 127-1000, neck shown in drawing 127-1015, pivot
pin 78051-339, bib simulator shown in drawing 127-1025, neck bracket
shown in drawing 127-8221, six axis neck transducer shown in drawing
SA-572 S11, neck mounting adapter TE-2208-001, and either three
accelerometers as shown in drawing SA572S4 installed in the head
assembly as specified in section 572.122 or their equivalent, is tested
according to the test procedure in paragraph (c) of this section, it
shall have the following characteristics:
(1) Flexion. Plane D referenced in Figure N2, shall rotate in the
direction of preimpact flight with respect to the pendulum's
longitudinal centerline between 74 degrees and 92 degrees. During this
rotation interval, the moment measured by the neck transducer (drawing
SA-572 S11) about the occipital condyles shall not be less than 27Nm
(19.9 ft-lb) and not more than 33 Nm (24.3 ft-lb). The moment shall be
calculated by the following formula: Moment (Nm) =
My-(0.01778m) x (Fx). The positive
[[Page 35174]]
moment shall decay for the first time to 5 Nm between 103 ms and 123
ms.
(2) Extension. Plane D referenced in Figure N3, shall rotate in the
direction of preimpact flight with respect to the pendulum's
longitudinal centerline between 94 degrees and during this rotation
interval, the moment measured by the neck transducer (drawing S-572
S11) about the occipital condyles shall not be more than -19 Nm (-14
ft-lb) and not less than -24 Nm (-17.7ft-lb). The moment shall be
calculated by the following formula: Moment (Nm) =
My-(0.01778m) x (Fx). The negative moment shall decay for the first
time to -5 Nm between 127 ms and 147 ms.
(3) Time-zero is defined as the time of initial contact between the
pendulum striker plate and the honeycomb material.
(c) Test Procedure (1) Soak the neck assembly in a controlled
environment at a temperature between 20.6 to 22.2 deg.C (69 to 72 F)
and a relative humidity from 10 to 70 percent for at least four hours
prior to a test.
(2) Torque the jam nut (drawing 9000341) on the neck cable (drawing
127-1016) to 0.23 Nm (2 in-lbs).
(3) Mount the head-neck assembly defined in paragraph (b) of this
section, on the pendulum so the midsagittal plane of the head is
vertical and coincides with the plane of motion of the pendulum as
shown in Figure N2 for flexion and Figure N3 for extension tests.
(4) Release the pendulum and allow it to fall freely from a height
to achieve an impact velocity of 4.95+/-0.12 m/s (16.2 +/-0.4 ft/s) for
flexion and 4.3 +/-0.12 m/s (14.10+/-0.40 ft/s) for extension tests,
measured by an accelerometer at the center of the pendulum at the
instant of contact with the honey comb.
(i) Time-zero is defined as the time of initial contact between the
pendulum striker plate and the honeycomb material. All data channels
should be at the zero level at this time.
(ii) Stop the pendulum from the initial velocity with an
acceleration vs. time pulse which meets the velocity change as
specified below. Integrate the pendulum acceleration data channel to
obtain the velocity vs. time curve:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pendulum pulse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time Flexion Extension
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ms m/s ft/s m/s ft/s
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10........................................................ 1.2-1.6 3.9-5.3 1.0-1.4 3.3-4.6
20........................................................ 2.4-3.4 7.9-11.2 2.2-3.0 7.2-9.8
30........................................................ 3.8-5.0 12.5-16.4 3.2-4.2 10.5-13.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec. 572.124 Thorax assembly and test procedure.
(a) Thorax (Upper Torso) Assembly. The thorax consists of the part
of the torso assembly shown in drawing 127-2000.
(b) Thorax assembly. When the anterior surface of the thorax of a
completely assembled dummy (drawing 127-0000) is impacted by a test
probe conforming to Sec. 572.127(a) at 6.71 +/-0.12 m/s (22.0 +/-0.4
ft/s) according to the test procedure in paragraph (c) of this section,
(1) The peak force measured by the probe in accordance with
Sec. 572.127 shall not be less than 1150 N (258 lbs) and not more than
1300 N (292 lbs) and the maximum sternum displacement relative to the
spine is not less than 38.0 mm (1.50 in) and not more than 44.0 mm (1.7
in) as measured with chest deflection transducer (drawing 127-8050),
and
(2) The internal hysteresis of the ribcage in each impact as
determined by the plot of force vs. deflection in paragraph (b)(1) of
this section shall be not less than 69 percent but not more than 85
percent.
(c) Test procedure. (1) Soak the dummy in a controlled environment
at a temperature between 20.6 to 22.2 deg.C (69 to 72 F) and a relative
humidity from 10 to 70 percent for at least four hours prior to a test.
(2) Seat and orient the dummy, that wears light weight cotton
stretch short sleeve shirt and above the knee pants on a seating
surface without back support as shown in Figure N4, with the limbs
extended horizontally and forward, parallel to the midsagittal plane,
the midsagittal plane vertical within +/-1 degree and the ribs level in
the anterior-poster and lateral directions within +/-0.5 degrees.
(3) Establish the impact point at the chest midsagittal plane so
that the impact point of the longitudinal centerline of the probe
coincides with the midsagittal plane of the dummy within +/-2.5 mm (0.1
in.) and is 12.7 +/-1.1 mm (0.5+/-0.04 in.) below the horizontal
centerline of the No. 3 rib and is within 0.5 degrees of a horizontal
line in the dummy's midsagittal plane.
(4) Adjust the dummy so that the tangent plane at the surface on
the ribs immediately adjacent to the designated impact point is
vertical and parallel to the face of the test probe.
(5) Impact the thorax with the test probe so that at the moment of
contact the probe's longitudinal center line falls within 2 degrees of
a horizontal line in the dummy's midsagittal plane.
(6) Guide the test probe during impact so that there is no
significant lateral, vertical or rotational movement.
(7) Allow at least 30 minutes between successive tests.
Sec. 572.125 Lumbar spine, abdomen, and pelvis assembly and test
procedure.
(a) Upper/lower torso assembly. The test objective is to determine
the stiffness effects of the lumbar spine (drawing 127-3002) and
abdominal insert (drawing 127-8210) on resistance to articulation
between the upper torso assembly (drawing 127-2000) and the lower the
torso assembly (drawing 127-3000).
(b) When the upper torso assembly of a seated dummy is subjected to
a force continuously applied at the head to neck pivot pin level
through a rigidly attached adaptor bracket as shown in Figure N5,
according to the test procedure set out in paragraph (c) of this
section, the lumbar spine-abdomen assembly shall:
(1) Flex by an amount that permits the upper torso assembly to
translate in angular motion until the instrument cavity mating surface
at the back of the thoracic spine is at 45 degrees relative to the
vertical transverse plane at which time the force level applied
perpendicular to the thoracic spine box mating surface is not less than
33 pounds and not more than 45 pounds, and
(2) Upon removal of the force the torso assembly returns to within
8 degrees of its initial position.
(c) Test procedure.
(1) Assemble the upper and the lower thorax including the loading
adaptor bracket, and attach them to the fixture
[[Page 35175]]
in a seated posture as shown in Figure N5.
(2) Secure the pelvis at the pelvis instrument cavity rear face at
the by threading four \1/4\ in cap screws into the available threaded
attachment holes. Tighten the mountings so that the test material is
rigidly affixed to the test fixture and pelvic-lumbar joining surface
is horizontal.
(3) Attach the loading adapter bracket to the spine of the dummy
and the pull cable and load cell as shown in Figure N5.
(4) Flex the thorax forward 40 degrees and then rearward as
necessary to allow the torso to return to its initial position without
external assistance.
(5)(i) Apply a forward force in the midsagittal plane through the
adaptor bracket as shown in Figure N5 at any upper torso deflection
rate between 0.5 and 1.5 degrees per second, up to 45 degrees of
flexion, at which time the applied force is perpendicular to the
thoracic spine box instrumentation cavity mating surface.
(ii) Continue to apply a force sufficient to maintain 45 degrees of
flexion for 10 seconds, and record the highest applied force during the
10 seconds period.
(iii) Release all force as rapidly as possible, and measure the
return angle 3 minutes after the release.
Sec. 572.126 Knees and knee impact test procedure.
(a) The knee assembly is part of the leg assembly shown in drawing
127-4000.
(b) Knee assembly. When the knee assembly, consisting of the knee
cap shown in drawing 127-4013-1 (left) -2 (right), knee flesh shown in
drawing 127-4011, lower leg shown in drawing 127-4014, the foot
assembly shown in drawing 127-4030-1 (left) -2 (right), and femur load
transducer shown in drawing SA-572 S10 or its structural replacement
(drawing 127-4007), is tested according to the test procedure in
Sec. 572.127(c), the peak resistance force as measured with the test
probe mounted accelerometer is not less than 1.8 kN (441 lbs) and not
more than 2.8 kN (617 lbs).
(c) Test Procedure.
(1) Soak the knee assembly in a controlled environment at a
temperature between 18.9 to 25.6 C (66 to 78 F) and a relative humidity
from 10 to 70 percent for at least four hours prior to a test.
(2) Mount the test material and secure it to a rigid test fixture
as shown in Figure N6. No contact is permitted between any part of the
foot and tibia and any exterior surface.
(3) Align the test probe so that throughout its stroke and at
contact with the knee it is within 2 deg. of horizontal and collinear
with the longitudinal centerline of the femur.
(4) Guide the pendulum so that there is no significant lateral
vertical or rotational movement at time zero.
(5) The test probe velocity at the time of contact is 2.1+/-0.03 m/
s (6.9+/-0.1 ft/s).
(6) Time-zero is defined as the time of initial contact between the
impactor and the knee.
Sec. 572.127 Test conditions and instrumentation.
(a) The test probe for thoracic impacts is a 101.6 +/-0.25 mm (4.00
+/-0.01 in.) diameter cylinder that weighs 2.86 +/-.02 kg (6.3 +/-0.05
lb) including instrumentation. Its impacting end has a flat right angle
face that is rigid and has an edge radius of 12.7 mm (0.5 in.). The
test probe has an accelerometer mounted on the end opposite from impact
with its sensitive axis collinear with the longitudinal centerline of
the cylinder.
(b) The test probe for knee impact tests is a 76.2 +/-0.2 mm (3.0
+/-0.01 in.) diameter cylinder that weighs .82 +/-.01 kg (1.8 +/-0.02
lb) including instrumentation. Its impacting end has a flat right angle
face that is rigid and has an edge radius of 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) max. The
test probe has an accelerometer mounted on the end opposite from impact
with its sensitive axis collinear to the longitudinal centerline of the
cylinder.
(c) Head accelerometers shall have dimensions, response
characteristics, and sensitive mass locations specified in drawing SA-
572 S4 or equivalent and be mounted in the head as shown in drawing
127-0000 sheet 3.
(d) The neck force/moment transducer shall have the dimensions,
response characteristics, and sensitive axis locations specified in
drawing SA-572 S11 or its equivalent and be mounted in the head-neck
assembly as shown in drawing 127-0000 sheet 3.
(e) The thorax accelerometers shall have the dimensions, response
characteristics, and sensitive mass locations specified in drawing SA-
572 S4, or its equivalent and are mounted in the torso assembly in
triaxial configuration at T4, and in uniaxial for-and-aft oriented
configuration on the most anterior ends of ribs #1 and #6 and at the
spine box at the levels of #1 and #6 ribs as shown in drawing 127-2000.
(f) The chest deflection transducer shall have the dimensions and
response characteristics specified in drawing 127-8050 or equivalent
and be mounted in the upper torso assembly as shown in drawing 127-
2000.
(g) The optional lumbar spine force-moment transducer shall have
the dimensions, response characteristics, and sensitive axis locations
specified in drawing SA-572 S12 or its equivalent and be mounted in the
lower torso assembly as shown in drawing 127-3000 as a replacement for
lumbar adaptor 127-3005.
(h) The optional iliac spine force transducers shall have the
dimensions and response characteristics specified in drawing SA-572 S13
or equivalent and be mounted in the torso assembly as shown in drawing
127-3000 as a replacement for A.S.I.S. load cell replacement 127-3015-1
(left) and -2 (right).
(i) The optional pelvis accelerometers shall have the dimensions,
response characteristics, and sensitive mass locations specified in
drawing SA-572 S4, or its equivalent and be mounted in the torso
assembly in triaxial configuration in the pelvis bone as shown in
drawing 127-3550.
(j) The femur force transducer shall have the dimensions and
response characteristics specified in drawing SA-572 S10 or its
equivalent and be mounted in the leg assembly as shown in drawing 127-
4001.
(k) The outputs of acceleration and force-sensing devices installed
in the dummy and in the test apparatus specified by this part are
recorded in individual data channels that conform to the requirements
of SAE Recommended Practice J211, Rev. Mar95 ``Instrumentation for
Impact Tests,'' with channel classes as follows:
(1) Head acceleration--Class 1000.
(2) Neck:
(i) Forces--Class 1000.
(ii) Moments--Class 600.
(iii) Pendulum acceleration--Class 180.
(3) Thorax:
(i) Rib acceleration--Class 1000.
(ii) Spine and pendulum accelerations--Class 180.
(iii) Sternum deflection--Class 600.
(4) Lumbar:
(i) Forces--Class 1000.
(ii) Moments--Class 1000.
(5) Pelvis accelerations -Class 1000.
(6) Femur forces--Class 600.
(l) Coordinate signs for instrumentation polarity conform to the
Sign Convention For Vehicle Crash Testing, Surface Vehicle Information
Report, SAE J1733, 1994-12.
(m) The mountings for sensing devices shall have no resonance
frequency within range of 3 times the frequency range of the applicable
channel class.
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(n) Limb joints are set at lg, barely restraining the weight of the
limb when it is extended horizontally. The force required to move a
limb segment shall not exceed 2G throughout the range of limb motion.
(o) Performance tests of the same component, segment, assembly, or
fully assembled dummy are separated in time by period of not less than
30 minutes unless otherwise noted.
(p) Surfaces of dummy components are not painted except as
specified in this part or in drawings subtended by this part.
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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Figures to Subpart N
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29JN98.028
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29JN98.029
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29JN98.030
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29JN98.031
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29JN98.032
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP29JN98.033
Issued on: June 22, 1988.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-17138 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-C