Analysis of the efect of modifying test setup variables to increase the load case severity in side impacts with WorldsID.
Recently, EuroNCAP has implemented a wide set of changes in its protocols so as to increase the severity of its load cases and improve the biofidelity of the anthropomorphic test devices that are used in the tests. With this objective in mind, in the
side impact tests, not only has the dummy been changed from EuroSID II to WorldSID; but the test configurations have also been modified.
In the car-to-car impact test, the movable deformable barrier that is used as an impactor has been updated, modifying in this way the force that the vehicle receives from the barrier. In the pole test, however, the changes were found in the impact angle and speed.
The crash is now performed with an impact angle of 75º (instead of a purely perpendicular impact) and at an increased speed of 32 km/h (vs. the previous 29 km/h).
In this paper the effect of modifying the main test setup variables that have been changed in the new Euro NCAP Side Impact Protocols will be studied separately; analyzing which of them has a greater effect on the WorldSID response.
Because of this, comparative WorldSID pendulum tests have been performed, changing either the impactor weight, test speed or angle of impact.
By analyzing the results from these tests it will be possible to assess which of the three factors affect the dummy response the most. This conclusion may be used to develop
future vehicles, consequently focusing on the most critical aspects for the occupant.