Design of a Unified Compact Rig for Knee Slider and Impact Testing

Abstract

The calibration of anthropomorphic test device knee assemblies is a critical requirement in vehicle safety assessment to ensure reliable biomechanical response under impact and sliding load conditions. Knee impact and slider calibration rigs conventionally available are typically large, single functional systems and also demand large laboratory space and reconfiguration, limiting their application in many research and testing environments. This paper presents the design and further analytical validation of a compact and integrated test rig which combines the function of both knee impact and slider tests. The proposed design is based on pendulum dynamics to achieve kinematic conditions under compliance of standards. Analytical calculations and design verify that the rig can be configured to achieve required impact and slider velocities adhering to relevant automotive calibration standards by appropriate selection of impactor mass, pendulum geometry, and actuation parameters. System footprint is reduced owing to compact design while maintaining structural stiffness, alignment integrity, and repeatability by design. Rig presented here offers a practical, compact design framework for knee calibration while following the standards and establishes a foundation for future prototype development and experimental validation.