Comparative Performance Evaluation of THOR and Hybrid III 2000-01-0161

A comparison of the NHTSA advanced dummy, THOR, and the Hybrid III dummy is presented in this paper, based on their performance in four vehicle barrier tests, six HYGE sled tests and twenty two pendulum chest–impact tests. Various time–histories pertaining to accelerations, angular motions, deflections, forces and moments are compared between the two dummies in light of their design difference.

In general, in the vehicle crash tests, the resultant head acceleration and chest deflection in THOR are greater than those in the HYBRID III. The shear, axial force and lateral moment in THOR's lumbar are less than those in the Hybrid III in frontal impacts. The differences in the head/chest acceleration and chest deflection could be due to the differences in the construction of the neck and the thorax of the THOR when compared to those of the Hybrid III. The THOR and the Hybrid III have the same level of repeatability in the rear impact sled tests. The THOR is less repeatable in tests involving pendulum impacts on the chest. No major durability problems were identified in the THOR. The construction of the THOR is much more complex than that of the Hybrid III. In order for the THOR to be as easy to use as the Hybrid III, greater effort is needed to improve convenience in terms of data processing, documentation and handling.