Volume 25 No. 1
January 2011
mga research corporation
“Advancing Worldwide Passenger Safety and Transportation Quality”
•research
•testing
Technical Translation Available
For Testing Conducted at MGA
Jennifer Hill - Greer
MGA has years of experience in providing testing
services to various domestic and foreign Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers.
Typically, when conducting testing for a foreign OEM,
we are requested to have the test results translated into
the native language for the customer to share with their
counterparts overseas. We have found that providing
the test results already translated makes it easier for
customers when sharing results with engineers from
other countries.
As OEMs strive to design and build “world cars”
that share common chassis, bodies, and components,
yet meet the requirements of markets around the
world, issues such as language, local regulations,
styling preferences play a larger role. In many cases
the development of a world car is done at one facility,
built at another plant, and the cars are shipped to
different world regions.
For a test laboratory, experience and capabilities in
foreign market requirements is very important.
Translation of test reports is one small example of our
commitment to meeting the needs of our customers.
Another much larger example is our experience with
the European based ECE/EEC test standards. We have
supported dozens of programs over the years with both
development and witness testing for vehicles being
built in the U.S. but sold overseas.
As OEMs continue to develop world cars, we will
tailor our services to meet the unique challenges of this
type of program. For more information please contact
Jennifer Hill ([email protected]) at (864)
848-3088. mga
•design
•fabrication
Battery Testing Improvements
Mike Capan - Akron
This past year at the Technical Services Lab (TSL),
we have been working to expand its battery testing
capabilities. We are now underway on a major
improvement project for the large format battery testing chamber. The improvement project has included
many new enhancements, small and large, that will
help us provide our customers with better quality video
and data from even the most destructive tests. Some of
these improvements include an enhanced viewing
window that allows for better videography as well as
customer test viewing. New data collection systems
have increased the speed of which the data can be
collected. These new improvements are only the beginning.
Currently under development is a new test control
system that will help provide better control as well as
reduce the long term equipment costs from catastrophic test failures. Along with this new control system, the
lab installed more equipment to handle the high voltage and power requirements of today’s large format
batteries. Our large format battery testing abilities
currently include UN DOT testing as well as Freedom
Car testing and testing per SAE standards. Also
planned for TSL’s future is a new and improved battery
crush and nail penetration test system.
If you have any questions or would like additional
information please contact the TSL at (716) 542-5515,
or send an e-mail to [email protected].
mga
Electronic Newsletter Sign Up
Receive your monthly newsletter through e-mail!
Contact Natalee Small at (864) 848-3088 or via
e-mail at [email protected]. Also,
our website’s homepage (ww.mgaresearch.com) has
a “Newsletter Sign-Up” button. Don’t forget to visit
our new blog page (www.mgatestnews.com) to
check out all the new and exciting things going on in
our labs closest to you!
The Biomechanics of Whiplash Injuries: Why is FMVSS 202a
Important?
Alisshia Woods - Troy
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) lists the
purpose of FMVSS 202a as a standard to “reduce the
frequency and severity of neck injury in rear-end and
other collisions”. The most common neck injury associated with rear-end collisions is the whiplash injury.
Whiplash injury is defined as a cervical spine injury
caused by a sudden and usually unexpected forcedforward movement of the body causing an abrupt jerking motion of the head and neck. The tearing and/or
stretching of ligaments and muscles in the neck as a
result of a whiplash injury can cause several postsymptoms that could remain present for a number of
years.
Whiplash injury symptoms
include:
Neck/Shoulder pain
Lower back pain
Dizziness
Vertigo
Fatigue
Numbness/Tingling
Face/Jaw pain
and stiffness
Whiplash injuries are considered AIS 1 injuries
(Abbreviated Injury Scale, 0=no injury: 6=fatal).
Although not a fatal injury, because of their high
incidence rates and long-term medical implications,
whiplash injuries can be very costly. NHTSA reports
that based on the National Accident Sampling System
(NASS) data between the years of 1988 – 1996, the
total annual cost (excluding property damage) resulting from the 805,851 whiplash injuries reported was
estimated to be $5.2 billion. This figure includes medical, legal, insurance, productivity, and work costs.
Although the exact mechanics of the whiplash
injury are unknown, it has been determined that sufficient support of the head during a rear-end collision
would greatly reduce its severity. Insuring that the
height of a head restraint is above the CG of the
occupant’s head and reducing the backset (distance
between the back of the occupant’s head and the headrestraint) will provide adequate protection of the head
by limiting the amount of rearward movement during a
rear-end collision. FMVSS 202a addresses these
requirements as well as puts in place conditions to
ensure that the head restraint remains in place throughout the event. The tests required by FMVSS 202a
include checking the absorbency of the head-restraint,
verifying its locking mechanisms, and testing the seat
back and head restraint as a system. Head restraints
should be designed to maintain their position relative
to the seat back during a crash thereby reducing the
rearward displacement of the occupant’s head relative
to the occupant’s torso.
The NHTSA reports that the benefits of increasing
the height of head restraints are estimated to be a total
reduction of 14,247 whiplash injuries with a total cost
effectiveness of $5 million. According to supporting
data published by the NHTSA, FMVSS 202a does not
only help in reducing the number of whiplash injuries
but as a result, will also reduce the amount of societal
costs incurred.
MGA-MI currently holds a contract for FMVSS
202a S4.3 annual NHTSA compliance testing. It is
very interesting to see the new designs and changes to
seating systems that are intended to reduce whiplash
injuries. Whether it is the dynamic or static option, the
new head restraint requirements become fully effective
on September 1, 2011 when all seats (front and rear) at
outboard seating positions equipped with head
restraints must comply.
If you have any questions on FMVSS 202a testing,
please contact Alisshia Woods at (248) 670-3184 or
send an e-mail to [email protected].
mga
2
Touching Base
As our society looks to the future, we should not be
too concerned with finding individuals who will develwith Dr. Patrick Miller,
op mega companies. These people are extremely rare
President
and are so good at what they do that they seem to prosper regardless of the conditions. Rather we should
attempt to develop cooperative educational programs
where selected individuals can be exposed simultaneously to both engineering and business activities so
necessary at smaller companies. Such programs might
Future Job Creation
then drive the entrepreneurial spirit to eventually
which is so
Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss current develop smaller innovative companies,
mga
necessary
for
future
job
creation.
educational challenges with the Dean of Engineering
of a major university. He said that during the past
several years, the greatest change for their graduates Up Close & Personnel
was where they would find career opportunities. In the
past, most of their graduates obtained employment at Meet Brian Storey
large companies who would hire large numbers of
engineering graduates each year. Today, however,
about seventy percent of their graduates find work at
smaller companies that might hire one or two
engineers each year. He felt that this trend must influence the way they prepare students for future careers.
About a month later, I spoke at a seminar for
mechanical engineering seniors at a different major
university. About 135 students were in attendance. My
talk attempted to illustrate how various, diverse work
experiences could lead to a most satisfying career.
And, in my case, several experiences were illustrated
which eventually provided the basis for the founding
and further development of MGA Research
Corporation.
The discussion was lively, with several students
Brian Storey began his career at MGA in
showing an interest in both the demands of a technical
career and how they could be involved in basic December 2005. In his 5 years, Brian has been
business decisions. It is my belief that such goals can involved in multiple key activities within the MGA-WI
be best achieved by working in smaller companies Proving Grounds. Initially, he started working in the
where they would be exposed to a wider range of component lab completing various quasi-static and
business challenges. And, if the trend is towards force-deflection projects. Over a short period of time
employment in smaller companies, the long term he became a lead technician in rough road and abuse
might well be the enhancement of the entrepreneurial projects (airbag immunity), now having experience in
over 100 vehicles. In addition to his rough road schedspirit which tends to drive technical progress.
Today, people seem to think of the immediate need ule, Brian has also found time to gain proficiency in
to create jobs. But, when interacting with these other business units including the barrier crash
students, I thought about the long term job creation facility.
Most noteworthy of Brian’s skills include large
possibilities. If ten percent of these engineers, during
their lifetime, create companies that employ about 100 scale fabrication and installation projects. He has been
people, this group could indeed be the basis of over a crucial part of our fabrication team in terms of fixture
1,000 future jobs. Just consider the possibilities if this development and construction for a multiple range of
could be duplicated in the many schools throughout the assignments including a R66 rollover frame, a motorcycle crash cart, and crash/sled facility installations.
nation.
On top of all his daily activities Brian is a decisive
The issue is how do we identify and support individuals who have the potential to start companies. Of member of the Wisconsin safety group, helping to
course, everyone wants to find the next “Bill Gates” or create the safest environment for all of us to work in.
Outside of MGA Brian enjoys spending time with
“Steve Jobs”. These people do not exist at most universities. Such an approach is like going to a summer his family (a 2 ½ year old daughter and a 1 year old
basketball camp expecting to find the next “Michael son). It will not be long until Brian can introduce his
Jordan”. He will not likely be found but one could children to his other hobbies of ice fishing and snowexpect to find a few exceptionally talented basketball boarding, which are the perfect activities for
Wisconsin winters. mga
players.
3
12790 Main Road
Akron, NY 14001
Presorted Standard
US Postage Paid
Akron, NY
Permit No. 18
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu
Feliz Año Nuevo
Saehae Bok Mani Badseiyo
Xin Nián Kuài Lè
Noothana Samvatsara Shubhakankshalu
MGA Research Corporation, 12790 Main Road, Akron, NY 14001, Phone 716-542-5515, Fax 716-542-4437
New York Operations, 13311 Main Road, Akron, NY 14001, Phone 716-542-5672, Fax 716-542-5166
Michigan Operations, 446 Executive Drive, Troy, MI 48083, Phone 248-577-5001, Fax 248-577-5025
South Carolina Operations, 820 Suburban Park Drive, Greer, SC 29651, Phone 864-848-3088, Fax 864-848-9480
Virginia Operations, 11480 Robertson Drive, Manassas, VA 20109, Phone 571-292-1036, Fax 571-292-1039
Wisconsin Operations, 5000 Warren Road, Burlington, WI 53105, Phone 262-763-2705, Fax 262-763-0934
4