Headforms

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Overview

The WG17 Headform impactors from First Technology Safety Systems were developed with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in Delft and partners in the Working Group 17 from the European Enhanced Vehicle-safety Committee (EEVC). These headform impactors have been incorporated in a EEVC proposal for a Directive for Pedestrian Safety Tests of passenger cars for the European Commission. The design of the headform is based on the current WG10 headforms, which are currently used as the tool in pedestrian safety evaluations in the European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP).

In June 1997, the European Enhanced Vehicle-safety Committee (EEVC) decided to set up a Pedestrian Safety working group: WG17. The main task of EEVC Working Group 17 was to review EEVC Working Group 10 pedestrian protection test methods from 1994 and to propose possible revisions, taking into account new data in the field of accident statistics, biomechanics and test results. The EEVC WG17 report has been finalized in December 1998. Several improvements in test conditions, requirements and tools (i.e. impactors) have been included. The new EEVC pedestrian protection test methods will be used by the European Commission for further development of regulations in this field.

Since 1994, the subsystem impactors described in the EEVC test methods have been further evaluated and improved. EEVC WG17 has included new impactor specifications in the EEVC test methods:

  • Improvement of the leg-form impactor with a damper in order to avoid vibrations.
  • Alteration of headform impactor material to improve production and durability.
  • Improvement of the dynamic certification procedure of the leg-form and headform impactors in order to better reflect actual use in bumper and bonnet tests.
  • Enhanced durability and repeatability of the headform impactors.
To improve durability and repeatability EEVC WG17 decided to change to a more Hybrid-like head- form, i.e. an aluminium sphere covered with a PVC skin. The headform specifications have been updated in this respect. The outer diameter and mass of the headforms are unchanged. The FTSS WG17 Headform impactors meet the original certification requirement, which was developed on the basis of a drop test. Meeting this biofidelity requirement meant that the EEVC WG17 subsequently approved the FTSS WG17 Headform impactor design.
 
The original headform certification speed obtained from a drop test was only 20-25% of the impact speed on the car bonnet. EEVC WG17 has now developed a new dynamic certification procedure, which better reflects the actual use of headform impactors in bonnet tests.

FTSS offers the following Pedestrian Headforms:

WG17 (regulations: 2004/90/EC and EuroNCAP)

  • WG17 2.5 KG, Part Number: D.A
  • WG17 4.8 KG, Part Number: D.B

ACEA (regulation: 2004/90/EC)

  •  ACEA 3.5 KG, Part number: D.E

JNCAP (regulation: JNCAP)

  • JNCAP 3.5 KG, Part number: D.G
  • JNCAP 4.5 KG, Part number: D.F

Simulation Models

FTSS offers highly detailed and fully validated Finite Element Models of its headforms in the codes LS-DYNA, PAM-CRASH, ABAQUS and RADIOSS, along with FE modeling consultancy services.