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Understanding the Influence of Seat Belt Geometries on Belt-to-Pelvis Angle Can Help Prevent Submarining
Abstract:
The first objective of this study, addressed in Part 1, is to use finite element
(FE) human body modeling (HBM) to evaluate the tangent of the Belt-to-Pelvis
angle (tanθBTP) as a submarining predictor in frontal crashes for
occupants in reclined seats. The second objective, addressed in Part 2, is to
use this predictor to assess two technical solutions for reducing submarining
risks for two different occupant anthropometries.
In Part 1, tanθBTP (the lap belt penetration from the anterior
superior iliac spine [ASIS] in the abdominal direction) was evaluated in impact
simulations with varying seat belt anchor positions. Sled simulations with a 56
km/h full-frontal crash pulse were performed with the SAFER HBM morphed to the
anthropometry of a small female and average male. A correlation was found
between the submarining predictor and submarining.
In Part 2, the anti-submarining solutions (i) split buckle belt system and (ii)
anchor moving system were evaluated using the submarining predictor from Part 1.
The split buckle belt system was found to reduce the tanθBTP on the
buckle side, due to the disconnection from the diagonal shoulder belt force. The
anchor moving system, in contrast, was found to reduce the tanθBTP
for both buckle and lap sides. Thus both systems reduced submarining risk.
Part 1 showed that the tanθBTP is an accurate geometry-based
submarining predictor. Part 2 demonstrated that both the split buckle belt
system and the anchor moving system reduce submarining risks, as predicted by
the tanθBTP.