Viscoelastic characterization of the hybrid III three-year-old and Q3 dummy necks

This paper evaluates the viscoelastic neck response of two versions of the Hybrid III three year old dummy neck relative to the Q3 dummy neck. The necks were subjected to step-response displacements for axial extension, flexion/extension, lateral bending, and torsion. Linear and quasi-linear viscoelastic models were determined for each test condition. Instantaneous moment response and relaxation functions in flexion/extension were similar for all dummy designs. Designed for frontal impact testing, the Hybrid III dummy necks were significantly stiffer in lateral bending than the omnidirectional 43 neck. Elastic response characteristics in torsion were comparable among the designs but the 43 design incorporated an offset into the moment-angle response. The steel cable present in the Hybrid III models significantly stiffened the response in axial extension with a compliance several orders of magnitude below that of the 43 design. The results suggest that the significant response differences among the Hybrid III and 43 neck designs require injury criteria that are design specific.