The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: Seatbelt Burst Load Limiters

Ed Phillips (edphill@aol.com)
Mon, 13 Jan 1997 10:00:11 -0500 (EST)

Dick, Thank you for your kind words. I use the 60 G limit somewhat generically, as that is the parameters of the injury criteria of 208. (A) containment; (B) HIC < 1000; (C) upper thorax c.g. < 60 G; (D) uppre leg force < 2250 lbs. These criteria must be met through one of three options; complete passive restraints, lap belt, or lap + shoulder belts. The intent of the load limiter is to allow the system to meet those criteria. The most logical to me (and I could be wrong) would be to reduce the load into the chest. In other words, the belt system would not just stop the chest, but would yield a little after some point. I don't see how stretching out the belt (thereby allowing occupant movement) would reduce the containment, femur loading, or HIC. Likely its location relates to controlling the stress limit or loading allowable before failure. My suspicion is that a seat belt designer is going to have certain tools to assist his/her design in meeting 208 and the load limiter is
one of them. I imagine that the limiter is installed as a result of modeling or testing of a system, since not all cars are equipped with them.

e-m for further

Ed
Ed Phillips
edphill@aol.com

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