Simulation and Validation of FMVSS 207/210 Using LS-DYNA

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 207 and 210 applies to automotive seats, their attachment assemblies, and seat belt anchorage assemblies. These regulations ensure their proper location for effective occupant restraint, and it also minimizes the possibility of anchorage failure due to the forces resulting from a vehicle crash. These requirements are the most critical in seat development process and are generally considered the benchmark for an automotive seat’s safety performance. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is widely used to simulate the FMVSS 207/210 on a component level as well as on a complete seat system level. Quasi-static simulation using LSDYNA is one of the chosen methods to simulate the requirement. This paper will discuss a simple but accurate method to simulate and validate the FMVSS 207/210 test. The methodology describes the use of lighter body blocks to reduce the dynamic effect, simpler seat belt formulations, and the right use of element formulations and contact interfaces.