Abstract: Frontal offset impacts were tested for 10 vehicles to investigate driver airbag (DAB) absorption
energy effect. In the tests, the neck loads and the head accelerations of a dummy were measured to work out
the head accelerations, the head dropped velocities, and the airbag absorption energy under airbag effect.
The test results show that the average head dropped velocity is about 22 m/s, the head x direction is the main
absorption energy direction, the average absorption energy is about 1.1 kJ which is about 80% of the overall
absorption energy under the circumstances of the airbag effect with the dummy Head Injury Criterions (HICs)
being below high performance limit value. The protection neck effect is the better when x direction absorption
energy is higher which should be an aim to develop an airbag. Therefore, heightening the airbag absorption
energy effect in dummy head x direction may directly heighten the airbag rigidity or adjusting the seatbelt
restraint intensity.

Key words: automobile safety, frontal offset impact test, driver airbag (DAB), dummy head acceleration, absorption energy, neck protection