Means for Effective Improvement of the Three-Point Seat Belt in Frontal Crashes

The influence of vehicle deformation on the risks of head injury for the drivers involved in frontal crashes is studied using real world crash data. There are three types of vehicle damage distribution considered in this paper, namely, wide distribution, moderate offset, and small offset. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the head injuries are estimated by logistic regression, controlling for a wide variety of confounders. Results show that occupants' head injuries are highly related to damage distribution. Small offset crash has greatest threat to head injury. Seat belt is effective in all the crash types of concern. This study provides evidences to upgrade existing frontal crash test program and clue to countermeasure development for occupant protection in different crash modes.

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Investigation of Heavy Truck Restraint System Effectiveness Through Finite Element Computer Simulations in Frontal Crashes

Volume 12: Transportation Systems ◽

10.1115/imece2016-67356 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Nathan Schulz ◽

Chiara Silvestri Dobrovolny ◽

Abhinav Mohanakrishnan

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Seat Belt ◽

Restraint System ◽

Rigid Barrier ◽

Heavy Trucks ◽

Ring Location ◽

Heavy Truck ◽

Frontal Crashes ◽

Occupant Kinematics

Computer finite element simulations play an important role in reducing the cost and time taken for prediction of a crash scenario. While interior crash protection has received adequate attention for automobiles, very little is known for commercial vehicle such as heavy trucks. The understanding of injury types for heavy trucks occupants in relation to different crash scenarios would help mitigation of the injury severity. Finite element computer models of the heavy truck cabin structure, interior cabin components, anthropomorphic test device (ATD) (also called dummy) and passive restraint systems were developed and assembled to simulate head-on crash of a heavy truck into a rigid barrier. The researchers developed a computer simulation parametric evaluation with respect to specific seat belt restraint system parameters for a speed impact of 56.3 km/h (35 mph). Restraint parameter variations within this research study are seat belt load limiting characteristics, inclusion of seat belt pretensioner, and variation of seat belt D-ring location. Additionally an airbag was included to investigate another restraint system. For each simulated impact characteristic and restraint system variation, the occupant kinematics were observed and occupant risks were assessed. Within the approximations and assumptions included in this study, the results presented in this paper should be considered as preliminary guidance on the effectiveness of the use of seat belt as occupant injury mitigation system.

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AIS 3+ Thoracic Injuries Among Drivers in Real-World Motor Vehicle Frontal Crashes: The Effect of Impact Direction, Impact Location and Status of Seat Belt

2016 Eighth International Conference on Measuring Technology and Mechatronics Automation (ICMTMA) ◽

10.1109/icmtma.2016.26 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Peiyu Li ◽

Chunsheng Ma ◽

Yuzhe Dong ◽

Hao Li ◽

Jinhuan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Real World ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Seat Belt ◽

Thoracic Injuries ◽

Impact Location ◽

Frontal Crashes

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Limiting performance of seat belt systems for the prevention of thoracic injuries

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part D Journal of Automobile Engineering ◽

10.1177/095440700021400202 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 214 (2) ◽

pp. 127-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

J. R. Crandall ◽

Z Cheng ◽

W. D. Pilkey

Keyword(s):

Seat Belt ◽

Optimal Solution ◽

Thoracic Injury ◽

Thoracic Injuries ◽

Injury Criteria ◽

Injury Model ◽

Frontal Crashes ◽

The Relationship ◽

Initial Impulse ◽

Belt System

The theoretically optimal performance of seat belt systems for occupants in automobile frontal crashes is investigated based on a two-mass injury model of the thorax. The performance is measured by thoracic injury criteria which include the maximum chest acceleration, compression and viscous response. The relationship between the best possible performance (limiting performance) of the seat belt system and the distance between the occupant and the interior components of the vehicle is displayed in the form of trade-off curves, which can be used for the evaluation of seat belt performance. The characteristics of the optimal seat belt force and the kinematics of the system are illustrated. The results indicate that the optimal seat belt force is not constant during an impact and that an initial impulse is required. However, constant seat belt force can provide thoracic restraint that is close to the optimal solution.

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Vehicle crashworthiness and the older motorist

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x03001223 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 395-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

ANDREW MORRIS ◽

RUTH WELSH ◽

RICHARD FRAMPTON ◽

JUDE CHARLTON ◽

BRIAN FILDES

Keyword(s):

Seat Belt ◽

Age Groups ◽

Older Drivers ◽

Side Impact ◽

Body Region ◽

Depth Information ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Young Drivers ◽

Frontal Crashes ◽

Vehicle Crashworthiness

This study examines the relationship between age and the injury outcomes for belted drivers in road vehicle crashes in the United Kingdom. The sample of 1,541 drivers was divided into three age groups: 889 drivers were aged 17–39 years (young drivers); 515 were 40–64 years (middle-aged), and 137 aged 65–84 years (older drivers). Both frontal and side impact crashes in which the vehicles sustained sufficient damage to be towed away from the scene are considered. In-depth information obtained from examinations of the crashed vehicles was combined with clinical data obtained from hospitals to throw light on the mechanisms that led to the injuries. Results show that in crashes of approximately equal severity, older drivers were significantly more likely than middle-aged and young drivers to be fatally injured in both frontal (p<0.001) and side (p<0.05) impact crashes. The results also show that older drivers sustained more injuries to the chest (p<0.0001) and that this body region is particularly problematic. The main sources of the chest injuries were found to be the seat belt in frontal crashes and the door in side impact crashes. As the number of older car users will increase rapidly in most OECD countries in the coming decades, the results suggest that vehicle re-designs are required, including in-vehicle crashworthiness systems, to take into account older people's relatively low tolerance of crash impacts.

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