Comparison of Hybrid III Rigid Body Dummy Models

Hybrid III Dummy Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) models have long been used for aspects of vehicle design, including vehicle structure and restraint systems to meet regulatory safety rating targets and internal company requirements. The quality and run time of these CAE models in simulating physical dummies directly affects the usefulness of CAE tools in vehicle development. The objective of this study is to compare the responses of the Madymo Rigid Body dummy and the LSTC Rigid-FE dummy in four crash test modes of one vehicle. During the study, in order to have a fair and sound comparison, the authors have requested each of the companies (TASS and LSTC) to examine the performance of their respective dummy models in essentially the same vehicle environment model. The authors would like to acknowledge their efforts and comments. In particular, frontal crash test modes using the passenger belted and unbelted 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy and the passenger belted and unbelted 5th percentile female Hybrid III dummy were studied. In each test mode, the Madymo Rigid Body dummies and the LSTC Rigid- FE dummies (beta release) were used. The CAE model results were compared with test results in both time history measurements (acceleration, velocity, displacement, forces, moments) and occupant kinematics (using high speed video). This is the result of one case study and the authors do not intend to draw any general conclusions as to which dummy model is better in relation to the other.