As part of a project to develop side impact test procedures for evaluating wheelchairs, wheelchair tiedowns and occupant restraint systems (WTORS), and vehicle-based occupant protection systems for wheelchair seating stations, we created validated finite element (FE) models to support procedure development. Models were constructed using LS-DYNA. Dynamic sled tests were performed to validate the FE models of surrogate fixtures and commercial hardware. Validated FE models were developed for the Surrogate wheelchair base (SWCB), Surrogate wheelchair for side impact (SWCSI), a manual wheelchair (Ki Mobility Catalyst 5), and a power wheelchair (Quantum Rehab Edge 2.0). Additional FE models of a heavy-duty anchor meeting the Universal Docking Interface Geometry (UDIG), surrogate four-point strap tiedowns (SWTORS), a traditional docking station, and the surrogate wall fixture were also developed.
