Modelling the Effects of Seat Belts on Occupant Kinematics and Injury Risk in the Rollover of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)

Rollover crashes of buses are usually associated with multiple impacts that can result in complex interactions between passengers and a bus superstructure. Although there have been a few field data studies that provide some insights into occupant injuries (e.g. severity and distribution of injuries) during the real-world bus rollover crash, because they had used post-crash data, the occupant kinematics and injury mechanisms were not completely detailed in their results. Based on a literature review, available numerical and experimental studies on a bus rollover safety have mainly focused on structural integrity rather than considering occupant responses in their assessment. In addition, their results about occupant responses in bus rollover crashes show some discrepancies in terms of the estimated injury distribution, severity, and causes. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to provide a more detailed understanding of the occupant kinematics and associated injury risk during the ECE R66 tilt table bus rollover test using validated finite element (FE) models. The ECE R66 tilt table rollover was simulated using a full finite element model of the bus. A 50th percentile male Hybrid III Anthropomorphic test device (ATD) and EuroSID-2re FE models were selected to simulate the occupant’s motion. Each ATD was seated adjacent to the impacted side wall and restrained with a 2-point seatbelt. Simulation parameters included two impact surface friction values and different side window conditions. The results indicated that both ATD estimated the highest injury risk when the partial ejection occurred. They predicted a similar injury risk for the head and thorax. The ES-2re estimated a very low risk of neck injury in all simulations, whereas the Hybrid III estimated the high risk of a neck injury. Finally, recommendations to potentially reduce the injuries were provided and possible future works were suggested.

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Child Posture and Belt Fit in a Range of Booster Configurations

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17030810 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 810

Author(s):

Monica L.H. Jones ◽

Sheila Ebert ◽

Miriam A. Manary ◽

Matthew P. Reed ◽

Kathleen D. Klinich

Keyword(s):

Injury Risk ◽

Dynamic Performance ◽

The Other ◽

Seat Belts ◽

Vehicle Interior ◽

Bony Landmarks ◽

Different Levels ◽

Additional Safety

Belt positioning boosters reduce injury risk for child occupants compared with seat belts alone. While boosters shorten the effective seat length (and thus reduce slouching), “boosting” the child relative to the vehicle interior components also achieves additional safety benefits. First, the increase of the lap belt angle usually improves belt fit across the pelvis and reduces the risk of the occupant slipping (“submarining”) under the belt. Second, the torso belt is re-centered over the bony landmarks of the shoulder for more effective/secure restraint. Third, the child’s head is relocated in a range better protected by side airbags. The objective of this research was to quantify differences in posture and belt fit across a range of booster designs that provide different levels of boosting. Posture and belt fit were measured in 25 child volunteers aged four to 12. Children were measured in three laboratory seating conditions selected to provide a range of cushion lengths and belt geometries. Six different boosters, as well as a no-booster condition, were evaluated. The low height boosters produced postures that were more slouched, with the hips further forward than in other more typical boosters. Lap belt fit in the low height boosters was not meaningfully different from the other boosters. Shoulder belt fit produced by the lowest height booster was similar to the no-booster condition. Belt positioning boosters that boost the child less than 70 mm produced postures similar to the no-booster condition. While lap belt guides on these products can produce a similar static lap belt fit, they may not provide adequate dynamic performance and do not achieve the other benefits that come with raising the child to a more advantageous location relative to interior components and belts.

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Investigation of occupant kinematics and injury risk in a reclined and rearward-facing seat under various frontal crash velocities

Journal of Safety Research ◽

10.1016/j.jsr.2021.08.001 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ngo Anh Vu ◽

Julian Becker ◽

Dinesh Thirunavukkarasu ◽

Peter Urban ◽

Saiprasit Koetniyom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Injury Risk ◽

Frontal Crash ◽

Occupant Kinematics

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Influences of Initial Forward Speed, Ground Stiffness on Seat-Belt Restraint Effectiveness in Rollover of Engineering Vehicle

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.341-342.418 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 341-342 ◽

pp. 418-422

Author(s):

Xiu Ling Wei ◽

Gui Qin Chen ◽

Xian Yu Zhang ◽

Xin Ge Wang ◽

Lei Li

Keyword(s):

Initial Velocity ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Seat Belt ◽

The Other ◽

Initial Speed ◽

Restraint System ◽

Forward Speed ◽

Seat Belts ◽

Wheel Loader ◽

Human Body Models

A simulation model of a certain wheel loader is established to assess the restraint effectiveness of seat belts in 90° rollover accident along slope. The restraint effectiveness of seat belts for 95th percentile human body models are simulated which wearing lap belt, three-point belt and harness at a certain speed, and the influences of initial velocity and ground stiffness are analyzed. The results show that under a certain forward speed and same ground stiffness, wearing the harness can make the operator completely restrained in the operators seat comparing with the other belts, the head excursion is smallest, and it can reduce the risk of the head striking hazardous features of the cab interior. Under the same restraint system, the dummy's injury risk is inconsistent with change of initial speed. The harness can all provide the best restraint for the operator under different forward speeds and ground stiffness.

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Simulation of occupant kinematics and injury risk assessment in a passenger bus rollover

2018 XI International Science-Technical Conference Automotive Safety ◽

10.1109/autosafe.2018.8373312 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Pattaramon Jongpradist ◽

Thanapol Laklaem ◽

Prem Thangtaweesuk ◽

Pakin Nimmawit

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Occupant Kinematics

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Clinical Update: Functional Capacity Evaluations—An Update

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.1999.sepoct02 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

pp. 4-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura Welch

Keyword(s):

Job Performance ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Disability Evaluation ◽

Time Period ◽

Submaximal Effort ◽

Lack Of Sleep ◽

Overall Performance ◽

Time Required ◽

Specific Limitation

Abstract Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) have become an important component of disability evaluation during the past 10 years to assess an individual's ability to perform the essential or specific functions of a job, both preplacement and during rehabilitation. Evaluating both job performance and physical ability is a complex assessment, and some practitioners are not yet certain that an FCE can achieve these goals. An FCE is useful only if it predicts job performance, and factors that should be assessed include overall performance; consistency of performance across similar areas of the FCE; consistency between observed behaviors during the FCE and limitations or abilities reported by the worker; objective changes (eg, blood pressure and pulse) that are appropriate relative to performance; external factors (illness, lack of sleep, or medication); and a coefficient of variation that can be measured and assessed. FCEs can identify specific movement patterns or weaknesses; measure improvement during rehabilitation; identify a specific limitation that is amenable to accommodation; and identify a worker who appears to be providing a submaximal effort. FCEs are less reliable at predicting injury risk; they cannot tell us much about endurance over a time period longer than the time required for the FCE; and the FCE may measure simple muscular functions when the job requires more complex ones.

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