A reverse engineering approach for development and validation of a belt positioning booster child seat

Abstract

This research attempts to develop and validate a model of High Back Booster seat used for child safety in automobiles. The cost of actual testing and the secrecy maintained by the manufacturers make research process difficult and increase the importance of computer simulations. To boost the research, a need for validated computer models is felt. Two types of booster seat models a simplified ellipsoidal model and a facet model are developed and validated using computational tool MADYMO. The method used for modeling was developed by Dr. Rajiv Menon from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A reversible engineering process was developed to model the seat. The seat was CT-scanned to obtain the geometric details and was then converted to a facet model using digitizing tools such as MIMICS and further simplified using Hypermesh. These models are being validated at three different speeds and their performance at each speed is compared with each other. Further certain applications of these models have been explained. The validation is carried out on basis of the comparison of kinematics in the simulations and actual sled test. To ensure the validity of the model the results are tested using certain statistical tests. These tests are used to compare various acceleration profiles and force/moments experienced by the occupant under the test conditions. Further the injury levels, sustained by the occupant, in the actual sled test and the simulations are compared. Thus a reversible engineering process is utilized to obtain a booster seat model and the model is further validated for its practical applications.