Evaluating the Responses of the THOR and Hybrid III Small Female ATDs during Frontal Sled Tests

<div>There is evidence to suggest that males and females respond differently in motor vehicle collisions, making it important to study how both sexes respond to vehicle safety systems. The THOR 5th-percentile female (THOR-05F) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) was developed to represent a small female occupant better than the Hybrid III 5<sup>th</sup>-percentile female (HIII-05F) ATD. However, there are few studies in which they have been directly compared. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the responses of the two ATDs in matched frontal sled tests simulating a realistic driver seat environment. A 7th-generation Toyota Camry driver seat test buck was used with Camry parts (i.e., 3-point belt, modified seat, steering wheel, airbag, and column). The belt was equipped with a 4-kN load limiter and pretensioner. Rigid foam (65 psi) was used to represent the knee bolster. Thirteen tests were conducted using speeds of 30 and 56 kph. Chest bands were used to measure external chest deflection. Greater neck compression loads, flexion moments, and extension moments were measured in the HIII-05F tests due to different airbag interactions compared to the THOR-05F. Upper neck compression in the HIII-05F was greater for the 30 kph tests than the 56 kph, reinforcing a need to research crashworthiness at lower speeds. Chest deflections were greater in the THOR-05F tests, which was likely due to the more compliant rib cage. External chest deflections indicated that belt routing and breast tissue influenced the location and magnitude of maximum chest deflections. External deflections also indicated that the HIII-05F rib cage might be more coupled bilaterally than the THOR-05F. Femur loads were slightly greater in the THOR-05F, although knee bolster loads were greater for the 56 kph HIII-05F tests. Future work will include conducting matched small female PMHS sled tests.</div>