A Novel Energy Management Approach for the Restraint System Concept Design

Abstract

Occupant energy management techniques have commonly been used for the restraint system design. The objective of this study was to propose a novel restraint system concept design approach with a special consideration of the total restraint system energy. Firstly, two assumptions were proposed based on the ideal occupant impact responses. Via the application of these two assumptions, the simplified vehicle impact acceleration pulse was located in the relative occupant-vehicle displacement domain. Thus, the restraint system energy which was equal to the work done by the initial loading on the occupant could be calculated. Then, the typical occupant two-trapezoid acceleration pulse was represented the resistant characteristic or physical parameters. Finally, a realistic vehicle was selected for the case study for the validation of the novel approach