SLIDE 1:
Status of NHTSA’s Ejection Mitigation Research

J. Stephen Duffy
Transportation Research Center, Inc.

SAE Government/Industry Meeting
May 9, 2005



SLIDE 2:

Ejection Mitigation
Problem Definition

52,897 Annual Ejections (1995-2003)
	1% of all crash-involved occupants
10,210 Annual Ejected Fatalities
	32% of all fatalities
	6,124 through side windows
10,177 Annual Rollover Fatalities
	3,703 ejected through side windows



SLIDE 3:
Ejection Mitigation
Research Program Goals

Demonstrate Countermeasure Feasibility
 * Evaluate ejection mitigation capability of prototype and current production systems
 * Evaluate injury-causing potential

Develop Occupant Retention Test
 * Full-scale rollover tests not repeatable

Develop Rollover Sensor Performance Test


SLIDE 4
Ejection Mitigation
Guided Impactor
- 18 kg Mass
- Featureless Headform
  * Average of front & side of head geometries
  * More uniform shape
- Measures Displacement
- Positioned Inside Vehicle
- Impact a Variety of Locations

SLIDE 5
Ejection Mitigation
Systems Evaluated

Inflatable Systems
Production Window Curtains
2003 Lincoln Navigator
2004 Volvo XC90
Advanced Head Protection Curtain (AHPC)
Zodiac Automotive US

Inflatable/Laminated Glazing Combination
2003 Lincoln Navigator (front only)
2004 Volvo XC90



SLIDE 6:
Ejection Mitigation
<photo>
Pre-Broken Glazing


SLIDE 7:
Ejection Mitigation
Front Side Window Impact Locations
<graphic representation of points-of-impact>


SLIDE 8:
Ejection Mitigation
Guided Impactor Test Matrix – Front Side Windows
[chart]


SLIDE 9:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Front Window
[bar chart] maximum excursion beyond window plane


SLIDE 10:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Front Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
Volvo xc90 - pre-broken side laminate


SLIDE 11:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Front Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
Lincoln Navigator - open window


SLIDE 12:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Front Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
Lincoln Navigator - pre-broken side laminate


SLIDE 13:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Front Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
Zodiac AHPC - open window


SLIDE 14:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Front Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
Zodiac AHPC - pre-broken side laminate

SLIDE 15:
Ejection Mitigation
Rear Side Window Impact Locations
[graphic representing head points-of-impact]


SLIDE 16:
Ejection Mitigation
Guided Impactor Test Matrix – Rear Side Windows
[table]


SLIDE 17:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Rear Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
Zodiac AHPC - open window


SLIDE 18:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Rear Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
lincoln navigator - open window


SLIDE 19:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Rear Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
volvo x90 - open window


SLIDE 20:
Ejection Mitigation
Impactor Results – Rear Window
[bar chart]
maximum excursion beyond window plane
volvo x90 - pre-broken side laminate


SLIDE 21:
Ejection Mitigation
Ongoing Research

- Continue to Evaluate Current Production Systems
  * Those that offer protection in rollovers
- Develop or Adopt Method to Pre-Break Glazing
- Evaluate Possible Excursion Limit
- Develop Rollover Sensor Performance Test



SLIDE 22:
THE END