35170 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules

International Transcription Services,

Inc., 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 140,

Washington, DC 20037. Comments and

reply comments will be available for

public inspection during regular

business hours in the FCC Reference

Center, 1919 M Street, NW, Room 239,

Washington, DC 20554.

12. Other requirements. Comments

and reply comments must also comply

with § 1.49 and all other applicable

sections of the Commission’s rules. We

also direct all interested parties to

include the name of the filing party and

the date of the filing on each page of

their comments and reply comments.

13. Commenters may also file

informal comments or an exact copy of

formal comments electronically via the

Internet at: <http:dettifoss.fcc.gov:8080/

cgi-bin/ws.exe/beta/ecfs/upload.hts>.

Only one copy of electronically filed

comments must be submitted.

Commenters must note on the subject

line whether an electronic submission is

an exact copy of formal comments.

Commenters also must include their full

name and U.S. Postal Service mailing

address in their submissions. Further

information on the process of

submitting comments electronically is

available at that location and at <http:/

/www.fcc.gov/e-file>.

14. Parties are also asked to submit

comments and reply comments on

diskette. Such diskette submissions

would be in addition to and not a

substitute for the formal filing

requirements addressed above. Parties

submitting diskettes should submit

them to: Ms. Terry Conway, Common

Carrier Bureau, Industry Analysis

Division, 2033 M Street, NW, Room 500,

Washington, DC 20554. Such diskettes

should be on a 3.5 inch diskette

formatted in an IBM compatible format

using WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows

software. The diskette should be

submitted in ‘‘read only’’ mode. The

diskette should be clearly labeled with

the party’s name, proceeding, type of

pleading (comment or reply comments)

and date of submission. The diskette

should be accompanied by a cover

letter.

III. Ordering Clauses

15. Accordingly, it is ordered,

pursuant to sections 1, 4(i), 7, 10, 11,

218 and 403 of the Communications Act

of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. sections

151, 154(i), 157, 160, 161, 218, 403, that

notice is hereby given of the inquiry

described above and that comment is

sought on these issues.

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–17079 Filed 6–26–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

49 CFR Part 572

[Docket No. NHTSA–98–3972]

RIN 2127–AG76

Anthropomorphic Test Dummy;

Occupant Crash Protection

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

amend 49 CFR part 572 by adding

design and performance specifications

for a new, more advanced 6-year-old

child dummy. The agency believes that

the new dummy, part of the family of

Hybrid III test dummies, is more

representative of humans than the

existing 6-year-old child dummy

specified by the agency, and allows the

assessment of more types of potential

injuries. The new dummy is especially

needed to evaluate the effects of air bag

deployment on children, but would also

provide greater and more useful

information in a variety of environments

to better evaluate child safety. Adding

the dummy to part 572 would be the

first step toward using the dummy to

evaluate the safety of air bags for

children. The issue of specifying use of

the dummy in determining compliance

with performance test requirements,

e.g., as part of the agency’s occupant

protection standard and/or child

restraint standard, will be addressed in

future rulemakings.

DATES: Comments must be received by

September 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to

the docket number, and be submitted to:

Docket Management, Room PL–401, 400

Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20590 (Docket hours are from 10 a.m. to

5 p.m.).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

nonlegal issues: Stan Backaitis, Office of

Crashworthiness Standards (telephone:

202–366–4912). For legal issues:

Edward Glancy, Office of the Chief

Counsel (202–366–2992). Both can be

reached at the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St.,

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On November 14, 1991, NHTSA

published in the Federal Register (56

FR 57830) a final rule establishing

specifications and performance criteria

for a test dummy representing a 6-yearold child. The specifications and

performance criteria were set forth as

subpart I of 49 CFR part 572. The agency

explained that adding the subpart I 6-

year-old child dummy to part 572 was

a possible first step toward using the

dummy to test the compliance of

booster seats and other types of child

restraint systems as part of Safety

Standard No. 213, Child Restraint

Systems. The agency subsequently

added the dummy to Standard No. 213

in a final rule published in the Federal

Register (60 FR 35126) on July 6, 1995.

In these rulemakings, NHTSA

recognized that a more advanced 6-yearold child dummy was under

development, and the possible future

desirability of adopting such a dummy.

In commenting on the agency’s proposal

to add the subpart I dummy to Standard

No. 213, the American Automobile

Manufacturers Association (AAMA)

suggested that the agency instead add a

6-year-old child dummy based on the

50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy.

AAMA stated that this dummy had

improved anthropometric emulation,

more human-like response, and superior

instrumentation capability.

NHTSA explained its decision to

adopt the Subpart I 6-year-old child

dummy, rather than a more advanced

dummy, as follows:

The issue of whether NHTSA should adopt

the Hybrid III 6-year-old dummy instead of

the (Subpart I) dummy was addressed in the

NPRM and in the rule adopting the 6-yearold dummy specifications into part 572.

NHTSA’s position has been that, while the

Hybrid III dummy might have potential

advantages over the (Subpart I) dummy in the

number of injury parameters the dummies

can measure, rulemaking on the latter

dummy should not be delayed pending

assessment of the performance of the new

dummy. NHTSA stated in the part 572 final

rule:

The (Subpart I) dummy’s ability to measure

HIC, chest acceleration and femur loads, and

its ability to replicate the motions and

excursions of a child in a crash are sufficient

to provide valid assessment of the injury

potential of child restraint systems in a

reliable manner. Since the (Subpart I)

dummy is ready now, and a final rule

specifying the dummy will help improve

safety, the agency believes it is appropriate

to proceed with adding the dummy to part

572.

Likewise, NHTSA believes rulemaking

adopting use of a 6-year-old dummy in

Standard 213 compliance tests should not be

delayed pending evaluation of the suitability

and availability of the dummy as a test
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules 35171

device. Such evaluation will be undertaken

in the near future.

60 FR 35129–30.

While the desirability of a more

advanced 6-year-old child dummy has

been apparent for a number of years, the

need for such a dummy has become

more urgent with the emergence of the

safety problems current air bags pose for

out-of-position children. Experience in

using the subpart I dummy has shown

it to be adequate for the purpose of

evaluating child restraints for the injury

criteria and test conditions specified by

Standard No. 213, but limited with

respect to the types of injury risks it can

measure, particularly in an air bag

environment.

For example, the neck of the subpart

I dummy is not of multi-segment design.

Accordingly, it has less biofidelity in

areas such as impact responses in

flexion and extension motion. Since

neck injury is one of the primary causes

of fatalities to out-of-position children

from air bags, biofidelity is needed in

these areas to evaluate the effects of air

bag deployment on children.

By contrast, the more advanced

Hybrid III 6-year-old child dummy

(hereafter referred to as the H-III6C

dummy) incorporates improved

biofidelity and extended measurement

capability in many areas, including

those discussed above. Because of the

greater biofidelity and extended

measurement capability of the H-III6C

dummy, it can be used to evaluate the

safety of children in a much wider array

of environments than the Subpart I

dummy, including assessing the effects

of air bag deployment on out-of-position

children. The agency notes that the HIII6C dummy is the only advanced 6-

year-old child dummy that has been

developed to date.

The H–III6C dummy is part of a

family of Hybrid III-type dummies. The

first Hybrid III dummy was a 50th

percentile male dummy. NHTSA has

specified use of this dummy for

compliance testing under Standard No.

208, Occupant Crash Protection, since

1986, initially on an optional basis, and

more recently on a mandatory basis.

The need for a family of Hybrid IIItype dummies having considerably

improved biofidelity and anthropometry

was recognized by the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in

1987 when it awarded a contract to

Ohio State University under the title

‘‘Development for Multi-sized Hybrid III

Based Dummy Family.’’ At that time,

the funding covered only the

development of a small female and a

large male dummy. However, CDC

provided additional funding in 1989 to

develop a design foundation for a

Hybrid III type 6-year-old child dummy.

Development of the H–III6C has

continued since then under the

guidance of the Hybrid III Dummy

Family Task Force of SAE. NHTSA has

also been involved with development of

the dummy, initially as an observer in

meetings of the SAE Task Force. As the

development of the dummy approached

maturity, the agency began to prefer the

use of the dummy in its research

programs, because of its advanced

instrumentation capability and better

biofidelity.

NHTSA began substantial use of the

H–III6C dummy in late 1994. However,

it found that inconsistencies in impact

response and durability problems

necessitated modifications. This

prevented the agency from conducting

an assessment of the dummy’s

capabilities as an objective and stable

test tool and its ability to function in a

variety of impact environments without

structural deficiencies. The agency

advised the SAE Task Force of its

interest in seeing the dummy

development accelerate and be brought

to a quick conclusion because of the

need to support air bag safety

assessment and better evaluation of new

child restraints. Subsequent testing of

the dummy revealed additional

problems requiring additional redesigns

in the neck and thorax areas, which

stretched the first availability of

preproduction dummies into

midsummer 1997. At that time, the

agency began an extensive test and

evaluation program of the dummy.

The agency has now completed its

evaluation of the H–III6C dummy and

has tentatively concluded that it is

ready for incorporation into part 572.

NHTSA is placing in the docket a

technical report entitled ‘‘Development

and Evaluation of the Hybrid III 6-YearOld Child Dummy.’’ That report

provides the technical information

supporting this rulemaking.

Accordingly, the agency is proposing

specifications and performance criteria

for the H–III6C dummy. The

specifications would consist of the

following three items:

(1) A drawings and specifications

package entitled ‘‘Drawings and

Specifications for the Hybrid III 6-YearOld Dummy (May 1998)’’;

(2) A user’s manual entitled ‘‘User’s

Manual for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old

Dummy [a date would be inserted in the

final rule]’’; and

(3) A document entitled ‘‘Printout of

Descriptions of Patterns and Molds for

the Hybrid III 6-Year Old Dummy in

Digital Form [a date would be inserted

in the final rule]’’;

These specifications are intended to

ensure that the dummies are uniform in

their construction and capable of

uniform and repeatable response in the

impact environment. The agency notes

that the first item listed above, the

drawings and specifications, will be

available for inspection in NHTSA’s

docket. (Since this item is nonscannable, it cannot be placed in the

DOT Dockets Management System

(DMS). Instead a statement indicating

where it may be viewed, i.e., in

NHTSA’s docket, will be placed in the

DMS.) Copies may also be obtained from

Reprographic Technologies, 9000

Virginia Manor Road, Beltsville, MD

20705; Telephone: (301) 210–5600.

The user’s manual and digital

descriptions of patterns and molds will

not be available until the time of the

final rule. The user’s manual will be

similar to the user’s manual specified by

part 572 for other dummies.

As with other dummies, NHTSA is

proposing impact performance criteria

to serve as calibration checks, and to

further assure the kinematic uniformity

of the dummy and the absence of

damage from previous use. The tests

address head, neck, thorax and femur

impact responses and stiffness

assessments of the lumbar spineabdomen area to torso flexion motion.

The agency is proposing generic

specifications for all of the dummybased sensors. For most earlier

dummies, the agency specified sensors

by make and model. However, NHTSA

believes that approach is unnecessarily

restrictive.

The generic specifications that the

agency is proposing include (1) the

uniaxial piezoresistive accelerometer

designated as SA572–S4, (2) force and

moment transducers: upper neck

SA572–S11, lumbar spine SA572–S12,

anterior-superior iliac spine load cell

SA572–S13, single axis femur load cell

SA572–S10, and (3) the thorax-based

chest deflection potentiometer SA572–

51. The proposed specifications

essentially reflect the characteristics of

the sensors used in NHTSA’s dummy

evaluation series that are identified by

make and model in the above referenced

technical report ‘‘Development and

Evaluation of the Hybrid III 6-year-old

Child Dummy.’’ Specifications for these

sensors are included in the drawing

package. Interested persons are

encouraged to comment on the

adequacy of the proposed specifications;

potential impact on the measured test

data, including the comparability of

data using sensors manufactured by

different companies; and issues related

to calibration assurance tests.
35172 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules

1For information concerning potential injury

criteria, see NHTSA Event Report, ‘‘Techniques for

Developing Child Dummy Protection Reference

Values,’’ Docket No. NHTSA–1996–1772–70, and

SAE Human Biomechanics and Simulation

Standards Committee comments concerning that

report, Docket No. NHTSA–1996–1772–94.

NHTSA notes that the H–III6C

dummy is the first of several new

dummies it will propose to add to part

572. Later this year, the agency plans to

propose adding an advanced 3-year-old

child dummy, the CRABI 12 month old

child dummy, and the Hybrid III 5th

percentile female adult dummy. The

agency intends to use these dummies in

its rulemaking for advanced air bags. All

of these dummies could be specified for

use in a variety of potential Standard

No. 208 tests, including static out-ofposition tests and/or various dynamic

tests. The child dummies could also be

specified for use in Standard No. 213

tests.

This notice only concerns the H–III6C

dummy, and is only proposing to add

the dummy to part 572. The issue of

specifying the use of the H–III6C

dummy as part of Standard No. 208 or

Standard No. 213 will be addressed in

future rulemakings However, since one

of the primary purposes of adding the

dummy to part 572 is to enable it to be

specified for use in the Federal motor

vehicle safety standards, NHTSA

encourages commenters to address its

suitability for the types of tests

discussed above. The agency also

encourages commenters to address the

dummy’s suitability with respect to

measuring potential injury criteria.1

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

A. Executive Order 12866 and DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures

NHTSA has considered the impact of

this rulemaking action under Executive

Order 12866 and the Department of

Transportation’s regulatory policies and

procedures. This rulemaking document

was not reviewed by the Office of

Management and Budget under E.O.

12866, ‘‘Regulatory Planning and

Review.’’ The rulemaking action has

been determined not to be significant

under the Department’s regulatory

policies and procedures.

This document proposes to amend 49

CFR part 572 by adding design and

performance specifications for a new,

more advanced 6-year old child dummy

which the agency may later separately

propose for use in the Federal motor

vehicle safety standards. If this

proposed rule becomes final, it would

affect only those businesses which

choose to manufacture or test with the

dummy. It does not impose any

requirements on anyone.

The cost of an uninstrumented H–

III6C dummy is approximately $30,000.

Instrumentation would add

approximately $25,000 to $41,000 to the

cost, depending on the amount of

instrumentation.

Because the economic impacts of this

proposal are so minimal, no further

regulatory evaluation is necessary.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

NHTSA has considered the effects of

this rulemaking action under the

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601

et seq.) I hereby certify that the

proposed amendment would not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

The proposed amendment would not

impose or rescind any requirements for

anyone. Therefore, it would not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities.

C. National Environmental Policy Act

NHTSA has analyzed this proposed

amendment for the purposes of the

National Environmental Policy Act and

determined that it would not have any

significant impact on the quality of the

human environment.

D. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

The agency has analyzed this

proposed amendment in accordance

with the principles and criteria set forth

in Executive Order 12612. NHTSA has

determined that the proposed

amendment does not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Request for Comments

Interested persons are invited to

submit comments on this proposal. Two

copies should be submitted.

All comments must not exceed 15

pages in length (49 CFR 553.21).

Necessary attachments may be

appended to these submissions without

regard to the 15-page limit. This

limitation is intended to encourage

commenters to detail their primary

arguments in a concise fashion.

If a commenter wishes to submit

certain information under a claim of

confidentiality, three copies of the

complete submission, including

purportedly confidential business

information, should be submitted to the

Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street

address given above, and two copies

from which the purportedly confidential

information has been deleted should be

submitted to the Docket Section. A

request for confidentiality should be

accompanied by a cover letter setting

forth the information specified in the

agency’s confidential business

information regulation. 49 CFR part 512.

All comments received by NHTSA

before the close of business on the

comment closing date indicated above

will be considered, and will be available

for examination in the docket at the

above address both before and after that

date. To the extent possible, comments

filed after the closing date will also be

considered. Comments received too late

for consideration in regard to this action

will be considered as suggestions for

further rulemaking action. Comments

will be available for inspection in the

docket. The NHTSA will continue to file

relevant information as it becomes

available in the docket after the closing

date, and recommends that interested

persons continue to examine the docket

for new material.

Those persons desiring to be notified

upon receipt of their comments in the

rules docket should enclose a selfaddressed, stamped postcard in the

envelope with their comments. Upon

receiving the comments, the docket

supervisor will return the postcard by

mail.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 572

Motor vehicle safety.

In consideration of the foregoing,

NHTSA proposes to amend 49 CFR part

572 as follows:

PART 572—ANTHROPOMORPHIC

TEST DUMMIES

1. The authority citation for part 572

would continue to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1392, 1407; delegation

of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

2. 49 CFR part 572 would be amended

by adding a new subpart N, consisting

of §§ 572.120–572.129, to read as

follows:

Subpart N—Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Child

Sec.

572.120 Incorporation by reference.

572.121 General description.

572.122 Head assembly and test procedure.

572.123 Neck assembly and test procedure.

572.124 Thorax assembly and test

procedure.

572.125 Lumbar spine, abdomen, and

pelvis assembly and test procedure.

572.126 Knees and knee impact test

procedure.

572.127 Test conditions and

instrumentation.

Subpart N—Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Child

§ 572.120 Incorporation by reference.

(a) The following materials are hereby

incorporated in this subpart N by

reference:

(1) A drawings and specifications

package entitled ‘‘Drawings and
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules 35173

Specifications for the Hybrid III 6-YearOld Dummy (May 1998)’’;

(2) A user’s manual entitled ‘‘User’s

Manual for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old

Dummy [a date will be inserted in the

final rule]’’;

(3) A document entitled ‘‘Printout of

Descriptions of Patterns and Molds for

the Hybrid III 6-Year Old Dummy in

Digital Form [a date will be inserted in

the final rule]’’;

(4) SAE Recommended Practice J211,

Rev. Mar95 ‘‘Instrumentation for Impact

Tests’’;

(5) SAE J1733 of 1994–12, ‘‘Sign

Convention for Vehicle Crash Testing.’’

(6) The Director of the Federal

Register approved those materials

incorporated by reference in accordance

with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

Copies of the materials may be

inspected at NHTSA’s Docket Section,

400 Seventh Street S.W., room 5109,

Washington, DC, or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC.

(b) The incorporated materials are

available as follows:

(1) The drawings and specifications

package referred to in paragraph (a)(1) of

this section and the user’s manual

referred to in paragraph (a)(2) of this

section are available from Reprographic

Technologies, 9000 Virginia Manor

Road, Beltsville, MD 20705 (301) 210–

5600.

(2) The printout of the descriptions of

patterns and molds for the Hybrid III 6-

Year Old Dummy in digital form

referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(3) of this

section is available from NHTSA’s

Docket Section.

(3) The SAE materials referred to in

paragraphs (a)(4) and (a)(5) of this

section are available from the Society of

Automotive Engineers, Inc., 400

Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA

15096.

§ 572.121 General description.

(a)(1) The Hybrid III 6-year-old

dummy consists of the components and

assemblies that are described by

‘‘Drawings and Specifications for the

Hybrid III 6-Year-Old Dummy (May

1998).’’ The complete assembly of the

dummy is shown in drawing 127–0000.

The component assemblies, and their

drawing numbers, are listed in the

following Table A:

TABLE A

Component assembly Drawing No.

Head Assembly ...................... 127–1000

Neck Assembly ...................... 127–1015

Upper Torso Assembly .......... 127–2000

Lower Torso Assembly .......... 127–3000

Leg Assembly ......................... 127–4000

TABLE A—Continued

Component assembly Drawing No.

Arm Assembly ........................ 127–5000

(2) These drawings, and all other

drawings referred to in this subpart by

the term ‘‘drawing’’ followed by a

number, are contained in ‘‘Drawings

and Specifications for the Hybrid III 6-

Year-Old Dummy (May 1998).’’

(b) Disassembly, inspection, and

assembly procedures are set forth in

‘‘User’s Manual for the Hybrid III 6-

Year-Old Dummy [a date will be

inserted in the final rule]’’;

(c) The patterns and molds are

described by ‘‘Printout of Descriptions

of Patterns and Molds for the Hybrid III

6-Year-Old Dummy in Digital Form [a

date will be inserted in the final rule]’’;

(d) Adjacent segments are joined in a

manner such that except for contacts

existing under static conditions, there is

no contact between metallic elements

throughout the range of motion or under

simulated crash impact conditions.

(e) The structural properties of the

dummy are such that the dummy

conforms to this Part in every respect

both before and after its use in any test

similar to those specified in Standard

No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection and

Standard No. 213, Child Restraint

Systems.

§ 572.122 Head assembly and test

procedure.

(a) Head assembly. The head consists

of the assembly shown in drawing 127–

1000, six axis neck transducer structural

replacement (drawing 78051–383X),

head to neck pivot pin (drawing 78051–

339) and 3 accelerometers (drawing SA–

572 S4) mounted in conformance to

drawing 127–1550.

(b) When the head assembly in

paragraph (a) of this section is dropped

from a height of 376.0+/¥1.0 mm

(14.8+/¥0.04 in) in accordance with

paragraph (c) of this section the peak

resultant acceleration at the location of

the accelerometers at the head CG shall

not be less than 245 G and more than

300 G. The resultant acceleration vs.

time history curve shall be unimodal;

oscillations occurring after the main

pulse are less than 10 percent of the

peak resultant acceleration. The lateral

acceleration shall not exceed 15 g’s

(zero to peak).

(c) Head test procedure. The test

procedure for the head is as follows:

(1) Soak the head assembly in a

controlled environment with a

temperature from 18.9 to 25.6 °C (66 to

78 °F) and a relative humidity from 10

to 70 percent for at least four hours prior

to a test.

(2) Prior to the test, clean the impact

surface of the skin and the impact

surface of the steel plate with isopropyl

alcohol, trichloroethane, or an

equivalent. The skin of the head must be

clean and dry for testing.

(3) Suspend the head assembly as

shown in Figure N1. The lowest point

on the forehead is 376.0+/¥1.0 mm

(14.8 +/¥0.04 in) from the impact

surface and the head is oriented to an

incline of 62 +/¥1 deg. between the

plane of the lower surface of the six axis

transducer or its structural replacement

and the plane of the impact surface. The

1.57 mm (0.062 in.) diameter holes

located on either side of the dummy’s

head are used to ensure that the head is

level with respect to the impact surface.

(4) Drop the head assembly from the

specified height by means that ensures

a smooth, instant release onto a rigidly

supported flat horizontal steel plate

which is 50.4 mm (2 in) thick and 610

mm (24 in) square. The impact surface

shall be clean, dry and have a micro

finish of not less than 203.2 × 10¥6 mm

(8 micro inches) (RMS) and not more

than 2032.0 × 10¥6 mm (80 micro

inches) (RMS).

(5) Allow at least 2 hours between

successive tests on the same head.

§ 572.123 Neck assembly and test

procedure.

(a) The neck assembly consists of the

assembly of components shown in

drawing 127–1015.

(b) Neck assembly. When the headneck assembly, consisting of the head

shown in drawing 127–1000, neck

shown in drawing 127–1015, pivot pin

78051–339, bib simulator shown in

drawing 127–1025, neck bracket shown

in drawing 127–8221, six axis neck

transducer shown in drawing SA–572

S11, neck mounting adapter TE–2208–

001, and either three accelerometers as

shown in drawing SA572S4 installed in

the head assembly as specified in

section 572.122 or their equivalent, is

tested according to the test procedure in

paragraph (c) of this section, it shall

have the following characteristics:

(1) Flexion. Plane D referenced in

Figure N2, shall rotate in the direction

of preimpact flight with respect to the

pendulum’s longitudinal centerline

between 74 degrees and 92 degrees.

During this rotation interval, the

moment measured by the neck

transducer (drawing SA–572 S11) about

the occipital condyles shall not be less

than 27Nm (19.9 ft-lb) and not more

than 33 Nm (24.3 ft-lb). The moment

shall be calculated by the following

formula: Moment (Nm) =

My¥(0.01778m)×(Fx). The positive
35174 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules

moment shall decay for the first time to

5 Nm between 103 ms and 123 ms.

(2) Extension. Plane D referenced in

Figure N3, shall rotate in the direction

of preimpact flight with respect to the

pendulum’s longitudinal centerline

between 94 degrees and during this

rotation interval, the moment measured

by the neck transducer (drawing S–572

S11) about the occipital condyles shall

not be more than ¥19 Nm (¥14 ft-lb)

and not less than ¥24 Nm (¥17.7ft-lb).

The moment shall be calculated by the

following formula: Moment (Nm) =

My¥(0.01778m)×(Fx). The negative

moment shall decay for the first time to

¥5 Nm between 127 ms and 147 ms.

(3) Time-zero is defined as the time of

initial contact between the pendulum

striker plate and the honeycomb

material.

(c) Test Procedure (1) Soak the neck

assembly in a controlled environment at

a temperature between 20.6 to 22.2°C

(69 to 72 F) and a relative humidity

from 10 to 70 percent for at least four

hours prior to a test.

(2) Torque the jam nut (drawing

9000341) on the neck cable (drawing

127–1016) to 0.23 Nm (2 in-lbs).

(3) Mount the head-neck assembly

defined in paragraph (b) of this section,

on the pendulum so the midsagittal

plane of the head is vertical and

coincides with the plane of motion of

the pendulum as shown in Figure N2 for

flexion and Figure N3 for extension

tests.

(4) Release the pendulum and allow it

to fall freely from a height to achieve an

impact velocity of 4.95+/¥0.12 m/s

(16.2 +/¥0.4 ft/s) for flexion and 4.3 +/

¥0.12 m/s (14.10+/¥0.40 ft/s) for

extension tests, measured by an

accelerometer at the center of the

pendulum at the instant of contact with

the honey comb.

(i) Time-zero is defined as the time of

initial contact between the pendulum

striker plate and the honeycomb

material. All data channels should be at

the zero level at this time.

(ii) Stop the pendulum from the

initial velocity with an acceleration vs.

time pulse which meets the velocity

change as specified below. Integrate the

pendulum acceleration data channel to

obtain the velocity vs. time curve:

Pendulum pulse

Time Flexion Extension

ms m/s ft/s m/s ft/s

10 .................................................................................................................................. 1.2–1.6 3.9–5.3 1.0–1.4 3.3–4.6

20 .................................................................................................................................. 2.4–3.4 7.9–11.2 2.2–3.0 7.2–9.8

30 .................................................................................................................................. 3.8–5.0 12.5–16.4 3.2–4.2 10.5–13.8

§ 572.124 Thorax assembly and test

procedure.

(a) Thorax (Upper Torso) Assembly.

The thorax consists of the part of the

torso assembly shown in drawing 127–

2000.

(b) Thorax assembly. When the

anterior surface of the thorax of a

completely assembled dummy (drawing

127–0000) is impacted by a test probe

conforming to § 572.127(a) at 6.71 +/

¥0.12 m/s (22.0 +/¥0.4 ft/s) according

to the test procedure in paragraph (c) of

this section,

(1) The peak force measured by the

probe in accordance with § 572.127

shall not be less than 1150 N (258 lbs)

and not more than 1300 N (292 lbs) and

the maximum sternum displacement

relative to the spine is not less than 38.0

mm (1.50 in) and not more than 44.0

mm (1.7 in) as measured with chest

deflection transducer (drawing 127–

8050), and

(2) The internal hysteresis of the

ribcage in each impact as determined by

the plot of force vs. deflection in

paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall be

not less than 69 percent but not more

than 85 percent.

(c) Test procedure. (1) Soak the

dummy in a controlled environment at

a temperature between 20.6 to 22.2°C

(69 to 72 F) and a relative humidity

from 10 to 70 percent for at least four

hours prior to a test.

(2) Seat and orient the dummy, that

wears light weight cotton stretch short

sleeve shirt and above the knee pants on

a seating surface without back support

as shown in Figure N4, with the limbs

extended horizontally and forward,

parallel to the midsagittal plane, the

midsagittal plane vertical within +/¥1

degree and the ribs level in the anteriorposter and lateral directions within +/

¥0.5 degrees.

(3) Establish the impact point at the

chest midsagittal plane so that the

impact point of the longitudinal

centerline of the probe coincides with

the midsagittal plane of the dummy

within +/¥2.5 mm (0.1 in.) and is 12.7

+/¥1.1 mm (0.5+/¥0.04 in.) below the

horizontal centerline of the No. 3 rib

and is within 0.5 degrees of a horizontal

line in the dummy’s midsagittal plane.

(4) Adjust the dummy so that the

tangent plane at the surface on the ribs

immediately adjacent to the designated

impact point is vertical and parallel to

the face of the test probe.

(5) Impact the thorax with the test

probe so that at the moment of contact

the probe’s longitudinal center line falls

within 2 degrees of a horizontal line in

the dummy’s midsagittal plane.

(6) Guide the test probe during impact

so that there is no significant lateral,

vertical or rotational movement.

(7) Allow at least 30 minutes between

successive tests.

§ 572.125 Lumbar spine, abdomen, and

pelvis assembly and test procedure.

(a) Upper/lower torso assembly. The

test objective is to determine the

stiffness effects of the lumbar spine

(drawing 127–3002) and abdominal

insert (drawing 127–8210) on resistance

to articulation between the upper torso

assembly (drawing 127–2000) and the

lower the torso assembly (drawing 127–

3000).

(b) When the upper torso assembly of

a seated dummy is subjected to a force

continuously applied at the head to

neck pivot pin level through a rigidly

attached adaptor bracket as shown in

Figure N5, according to the test

procedure set out in paragraph (c) of

this section, the lumbar spine-abdomen

assembly shall:

(1) Flex by an amount that permits the

upper torso assembly to translate in

angular motion until the instrument

cavity mating surface at the back of the

thoracic spine is at 45 degrees relative

to the vertical transverse plane at which

time the force level applied

perpendicular to the thoracic spine box

mating surface is not less than 33

pounds and not more than 45 pounds,

and

(2) Upon removal of the force the

torso assembly returns to within 8

degrees of its initial position.

(c) Test procedure.

(1) Assemble the upper and the lower

thorax including the loading adaptor

bracket, and attach them to the fixture
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules 35175

in a seated posture as shown in Figure

N5.

(2) Secure the pelvis at the pelvis

instrument cavity rear face at the by

threading four 1⁄4 in cap screws into the

available threaded attachment holes.

Tighten the mountings so that the test

material is rigidly affixed to the test

fixture and pelvic-lumbar joining

surface is horizontal.

(3) Attach the loading adapter bracket

to the spine of the dummy and the pull

cable and load cell as shown in Figure

N5.

(4) Flex the thorax forward 40 degrees

and then rearward as necessary to allow

the torso to return to its initial position

without external assistance.

(5)(i) Apply a forward force in the

midsagittal plane through the adaptor

bracket as shown in Figure N5 at any

upper torso deflection rate between 0.5

and 1.5 degrees per second, up to 45

degrees of flexion, at which time the

applied force is perpendicular to the

thoracic spine box instrumentation

cavity mating surface.

(ii) Continue to apply a force

sufficient to maintain 45 degrees of

flexion for 10 seconds, and record the

highest applied force during the 10

seconds period.

(iii) Release all force as rapidly as

possible, and measure the return angle

3 minutes after the release.

§ 572.126 Knees and knee impact test

procedure.

(a) The knee assembly is part of the

leg assembly shown in drawing 127–

4000.

(b) Knee assembly. When the knee

assembly, consisting of the knee cap

shown in drawing 127–4013–1 (left) –2

(right), knee flesh shown in drawing

127–4011, lower leg shown in drawing

127–4014, the foot assembly shown in

drawing 127–4030–1 (left) –2 (right),

and femur load transducer shown in

drawing SA–572 S10 or its structural

replacement (drawing 127–4007), is

tested according to the test procedure in

§ 572.127(c), the peak resistance force as

measured with the test probe mounted

accelerometer is not less than 1.8 kN

(441 lbs) and not more than 2.8 kN (617

lbs).

(c) Test Procedure.

(1) Soak the knee assembly in a

controlled environment at a temperature

between 18.9 to 25.6 C (66 to 78 F) and

a relative humidity from 10 to 70

percent for at least four hours prior to

a test.

(2) Mount the test material and secure

it to a rigid test fixture as shown in

Figure N6. No contact is permitted

between any part of the foot and tibia

and any exterior surface.

(3) Align the test probe so that

throughout its stroke and at contact with

the knee it is within 2 deg. of horizontal

and collinear with the longitudinal

centerline of the femur.

(4) Guide the pendulum so that there

is no significant lateral vertical or

rotational movement at time zero.

(5) The test probe velocity at the time

of contact is 2.1+/¥0.03 m/s (6.9+/¥0.1

ft/s).

(6) Time-zero is defined as the time of

initial contact between the impactor and

the knee.

§ 572.127 Test conditions and

instrumentation.

(a) The test probe for thoracic impacts

is a 101.6 +/¥0.25 mm (4.00 +/¥0.01

in.) diameter cylinder that weighs 2.86

+/¥.02 kg (6.3 +/¥0.05 lb) including

instrumentation. Its impacting end has a

flat right angle face that is rigid and has

an edge radius of 12.7 mm (0.5 in.). The

test probe has an accelerometer

mounted on the end opposite from

impact with its sensitive axis collinear

with the longitudinal centerline of the

cylinder.

(b) The test probe for knee impact

tests is a 76.2 +/¥0.2 mm (3.0 +/¥0.01

in.) diameter cylinder that weighs .82 +/

¥.01 kg (1.8 +/¥0.02 lb) including

instrumentation. Its impacting end has a

flat right angle face that is rigid and has

an edge radius of 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) max.

The test probe has an accelerometer

mounted on the end opposite from

impact with its sensitive axis collinear

to the longitudinal centerline of the

cylinder.

(c) Head accelerometers shall have

dimensions, response characteristics,

and sensitive mass locations specified

in drawing SA–572 S4 or equivalent and

be mounted in the head as shown in

drawing 127–0000 sheet 3.

(d) The neck force/moment transducer

shall have the dimensions, response

characteristics, and sensitive axis

locations specified in drawing SA–572

S11 or its equivalent and be mounted in

the head-neck assembly as shown in

drawing 127–0000 sheet 3.

(e) The thorax accelerometers shall

have the dimensions, response

characteristics, and sensitive mass

locations specified in drawing SA–572

S4, or its equivalent and are mounted in

the torso assembly in triaxial

configuration at T4, and in uniaxial forand-aft oriented configuration on the

most anterior ends of ribs #1 and #6 and

at the spine box at the levels of #1 and

#6 ribs as shown in drawing 127–2000.

(f) The chest deflection transducer

shall have the dimensions and response

characteristics specified in drawing

127–8050 or equivalent and be mounted

in the upper torso assembly as shown in

drawing 127–2000.

(g) The optional lumbar spine forcemoment transducer shall have the

dimensions, response characteristics,

and sensitive axis locations specified in

drawing SA–572 S12 or its equivalent

and be mounted in the lower torso

assembly as shown in drawing 127–

3000 as a replacement for lumbar

adaptor 127–3005.

(h) The optional iliac spine force

transducers shall have the dimensions

and response characteristics specified in

drawing SA–572 S13 or equivalent and

be mounted in the torso assembly as

shown in drawing 127–3000 as a

replacement for A.S.I.S. load cell

replacement 127–3015–1 (left) and –2

(right).

(i) The optional pelvis accelerometers

shall have the dimensions, response

characteristics, and sensitive mass

locations specified in drawing SA–572

S4, or its equivalent and be mounted in

the torso assembly in triaxial

configuration in the pelvis bone as

shown in drawing 127–3550.

(j) The femur force transducer shall

have the dimensions and response

characteristics specified in drawing SA–

572 S10 or its equivalent and be

mounted in the leg assembly as shown

in drawing 127–4001.

(k) The outputs of acceleration and

force-sensing devices installed in the

dummy and in the test apparatus

specified by this part are recorded in

individual data channels that conform

to the requirements of SAE

Recommended Practice J211, Rev.

Mar95 ‘‘Instrumentation for Impact

Tests,’’ with channel classes as follows:

(1) Head acceleration—Class 1000.

(2) Neck:

(i) Forces—Class 1000.

(ii) Moments—Class 600.

(iii) Pendulum acceleration—Class

180.

(3) Thorax:

(i) Rib acceleration—Class 1000.

(ii) Spine and pendulum

accelerations—Class 180.

(iii) Sternum deflection—Class 600.

(4) Lumbar:

(i) Forces—Class 1000.

(ii) Moments—Class 1000.

(5) Pelvis accelerations -Class 1000.

(6) Femur forces—Class 600.

(l) Coordinate signs for

instrumentation polarity conform to the

Sign Convention For Vehicle Crash

Testing, Surface Vehicle Information

Report, SAE J1733, 1994–12.

(m) The mountings for sensing

devices shall have no resonance

frequency within range of 3 times the

frequency range of the applicable

channel class.
35176 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules

(n) Limb joints are set at lg, barely

restraining the weight of the limb when

it is extended horizontally. The force

required to move a limb segment shall

not exceed 2G throughout the range of

limb motion.

(o) Performance tests of the same

component, segment, assembly, or fully

assembled dummy are separated in time

by period of not less than 30 minutes

unless otherwise noted.

(p) Surfaces of dummy components

are not painted except as specified in

this part or in drawings subtended by

this part.

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules 35177

Figures to Subpart N
35178 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules 35179
35180 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules 35181
35182 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 1998 / Proposed Rules

Issued on: June 22, 1988.

L. Robert Shelton,

Associate Administrator for Safety

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 98–17138 Filed 6–25–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–C