TESTING OF SEATS AND SEAT BELTS FOR ROLLOVER PROTECTION SYSTEMS IN MOTOR VEHICLES. IN: OCCUPANT AND VEHICLE RESPONSES IN ROLLOVERS

In this chapter, from a comprehensive text about occupant and vehicle responses in rollovers, the authors report on research that tested lap belt restraints utilizing a variety of lap belt geometric and webbing slack conditions. Tests included dynamic and static tests and the use of test mannequins and human volunteers. One of the tests considered factors affecting occupant displacement and flail in motor vehicle rollover crashes. Results showed that occupant displacement from the seat in rollover conditions as affected by factors associated with a vehicle seat belt restraint system and seat. The authors conclude that design attributes that may favorably affect the performance of seat belt restraint systems for rollover protection include: mechanisms which reduce the length of webbing in the lap belt restraint system; mechanisms which increase the lap belt angle; seat and seat belt attributes which reduce the effect of occupant compliance; seat or seat cushion attributes which lower the occupant's body in the vehicle; and inclusion of passive or deployable passive mechanisms in the seat and seat belt system.