CRASHWORTHNESS REQUIRE A CUSHION OF MINIMUM THICKNESS TO MINIMIZE DYNAMIC OVER-SHOOT OCCURRING DURING

LOAD-ATTENUATING SEAT CUSHIONS DESIGNED FOR CRASHWORTHY SEATING SYSTEMS MUST SERVE A DUAL PURPOSE. SUFFICIENT CUSHIONING MUST BE USED TO EVENLY DISTRIBUTE CONTRACT LOADS TO AVOID CONTARACT LOADS TO AVOID PRESSURE POINTS THAT CAN CAUSE DISCOMFORT,BUT THE DEMANDS OF CRASH LOADING. ALSO, THE RIGORS OF FIELD USE CAN SERIOUSLY DEGRADE MATERIALS COMMONLY IN USE. THEREFORE, THE DESIGN OF CRASHWORTHY CUSHIONS REQUIRES A COMPROMISE BETWEEN COMFORT, CRASHWORTHINESS, AND DURABILITY. THIS PHASE I SBIR PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A PROGRAM TO INVESTIGATE CONCEPTS FOR IMPROVED DESIGN OF LOAD-ATTENUATING CUSHIONS. A NUMBER OF CONCEPTS THOUGHT TO BE FEASIBLE AT THE PRESENT TIME ARE DISCUSSED. THE PROGRAM CALLS FOR A MERIT RANKING OF THE IDEAS AND PRODUCTION OF GENERIC PROTOTYPES FOR A LEAST THE TWO MOST PROMISING CONCEPTS. THE GOAL OF THE RESEARCH EFFORT IS TO DEVELOP A CUSHION THAT INCORPORATES SUPERIOR COMFORT WITH A REDUCTION IN DYNAMIC OVERSHOOT DURNING CRASH LOADING.