Abstract
Abstract: This paper presents a test rig realized in the laboratory "Caroserii şi Structuri Portante pentru Automobile" of The Faculty of Mechanics and Technology of The University of Piteşti, dedicated to the experimental study of the impact between an impactor - a false-head - and the automobile´s instrument panel. The test rig is a gravitational pendulum type and it fulfills the prescriptions of the ECE 21 Regulation, the one which in Europe establishes legal requirements and testing guidelines referring to the automobile´s interior fittings. This test rig allows the false-head impact, with the mass and from the velocity prescribed nominated regulation, without being necessary the import of supplementary energy from outside of the system. Also, due to the multiple possibilities of reciprocal positioning between the impactor and the instrument panel, it is possible the impacting in all possible positions of passenger occupant´s head impact with the instrument panel. The test rig is equipped with an accelerometer placed in the impactor, which records the evolution in time of the deceleration suffered by the false-head and the data are stored in computer by using a data acquisition system and they are processed later, in order to establish the maximum deceleration suffered by the false-head and the HIC (Head Injury Criterion).
Keywords: ECE R-21, test rig, head impact, instrument panel, gravitational pendulum, head deceleration, HIC.