Quasi-static and dynamic sled testing of prototype commuter rail passenger seats

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Quasi-static and dynamic sled testing of prototype commuter rail passenger seats

Severson, Kristine / Pertman, A. Benjamin / Stringfellow, Richard

Tests have been conducted on prototype commuter rail passenger seats which have been designed for improved occupant protection during commuter train accidents. Quasi-static tests were conducted to evaluate the moment versus rotation behaviour of the seat back and to improve the fidelity of the finite element seat model. Dynamic sled tests were conducted with instrumented ATDs (anthropomorphic test device) to evaluate occupant protection under collision conditions and to improve the fidelity of seat/occupant computer models. Three-passenger prototype seats were designed with the request that the seats must remain attached to the test fixture, occupants must be compartmentalised between seat rows, injury criteria for the head, chest, neck and femur must be within tolerance thresholds specified by the automotive industry and all seat components, including seat cushions, must remain attached. Test conditions were specified for two dynamic sled tests. The crash pulse represents the collision environment measured in the cab car during a previous full-scale train-to-train impact test of passenger rail cars incorporating crash energy management. The final test results indicate that all test requirements were met. The seats remained attached to the test sled, the ATDs were compartmentalised, all the injury criteria were within accepted tolerance thresholds and all the seat cushions remained attached.