[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35170-35182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17138]


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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.

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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-year-old 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-year-
old 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-year-old 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

[[Page 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 H-
III6C 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 III-type 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-Year-Old 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-Year-Old 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 non-scannable, 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 spine-abdomen area to 
torso flexion motion.
    The agency is proposing generic specifications for all of the 
dummy-based 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.

[[Page 35172]]

    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-
of-position 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.<SUP>1</SUP>
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    \1\ For 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.
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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 self-addressed, 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 Secs. 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


Sec. 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

[[Page 35173]]

Specifications for the Hybrid III 6-Year-Old 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.


Sec. 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                                
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            Component assembly                      Drawing No.         
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Head Assembly............................  127-1000                     
Neck Assembly............................  127-1015                     
Upper Torso Assembly.....................  127-2000                     
Lower Torso Assembly.....................  127-3000                     
Leg Assembly.............................  127-4000                     
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.


Sec. 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  deg.C (66 to 78  deg.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  x  10<SUP>-6</SUP> mm (8 micro inches) (RMS) 
and not more than 2032.0  x  10<SUP>-6</SUP> mm (80 micro inches) 
(RMS).
    (5) Allow at least 2 hours between successive tests on the same 
head.


Sec. 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 head-neck 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) x (Fx). The positive

[[Page 35174]]

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) x (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 deg.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   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 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 Sec. 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 
Sec. 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 deg.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 anterior-poster 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.


Sec. 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

[[Page 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.


Sec. 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 
Sec. 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.


Sec. 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 for-and-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 force-moment 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.

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    (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

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Figures to Subpart N
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    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