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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Abdomen Impact Testing of the THOR-50M Anthropomorphic Test Device

Document Series:
Technical Reports
Author:
  • Federal Railroad Administration
Report Number
DOT/FRA/ORD-21/08
Office
RDI-22
Subject:
Crashworthiness - Passenger Equipment
Keywords:
Passenger railcar, workstation tables, energy absorption, interior crashworthiness, injury criteria, abdomen injury, anthropomorphic test device, ATD, THOR-50M ATD, train collision safety
Document

FRA sponsors ongoing research on passenger rail equipment occupant protection at the Volpe Center. The Volpe Center contracted Calspan to conduct pendulum impact testing of the THOR-50M ATD. A series of 28 pendulum impact tests was performed on the lower chest and abdomen of the THOR-50M to evaluate: (1) biofidelity, (2) height sensitivity, (3) velocity sensitivity, and (4) repeatability. The test results indicate that the THOR-50M had a similar level of abdomen biofidelity to other advanced frontal impact ATDs. The THOR-50M was sensitive to variations in impact height and speed, and the tests were generally repeatable. The results will be used to inform potential updates to the abdomen compression performance limit for the THOR-50M in the industry safety standard for crashworthy workstation tables in passenger trains.


Last updated: Friday, February 26, 2021