Abstract:

Vehicle occupants probably eject from side windows in the accidents of vehicle rollover or side
impact. Some countermeasures, such as improvement of vehicle styling, vehicle structural design and vehicle
material, can be taken to mitigate the risk. Simulation tests for the occupant ejection from side windows were
made and an evaluation method was built in terms of Regulation 226 by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) in 2011. Some test techniques were used including calibration of impactors, determination of
impact targets, and pre-breaking treatment of laminated windows. The results of an example test were presented
to visually reflecting the whole process of headform impact onto the side curtain airbag in consideration of
accelerations, velocities, and displacements. The results indicate that the displacement of the impactor is less
than 100 mm when the impactor travels beyond the zero plane, which means that the requirements of the test
regulation are well satisfied.

Key words: vehicle, occupant safety, side impact, occupant ejection, test method