Study and Analysis of Altitude Effects on Airbag and Its Components: Simulation, Testing and Potential Corrective Factors in High-Altitude Conditions

The aim of this Master’s Thesis is to study and analyze the effects of different altitudes on airbag deployment and its components. This project was conducted in collaboration with Italdesign- Giugiaro S.p.A. The first and second chapters are the theoretical part of this thesis. In particular, in the first chapter there is an introduction on airbag mechanism and its components. The second chapter describes the validation phase of an airbag, detailing the types of tests performed and the test conditions. The last two chapters, instead, are the practical part, with simulations, tests and potential corrective factors for high altitudes. The third chapter analyzes the effects of atmospheric conditions on airbags, with a focus on altitude. This section presents tests conducted at sea level and at an altitude of 2000 meters. The fourth chapter discusses potential corrective factors for the altitude. These were found through the literature and then validated through simulations and physical tests conducted under different conditions.