Evaluation of dummy behavior during low severity rear impact

Given the serious consequences of neck injuries resulting from rear-end collisions, this collision type has gained much attention lately. The low g loading levels and diffuse injuries require a crash dummy with an improved response compared to the available crash dummies.In the EC sponsored 'Whiplash' program several sled tests with human subjects were performed, which can be used to evaluate dummies for low and mid severity rear-end collision testing. This paper shows the responses of the human subjects and compares the Hybrid III dummy with these responses. The Hybrid III dummy response was not found to be very biofidelic, resulting in the design of a new rear impact dummy: the RID2. Initial testing with the RID2-aprototype neck showed more human-like responses.