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Protection of the lower extremities in two and three wheelers with safety cell
Technical Paper
2001-06-0200
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Drivers of motorbikes or scooters have previously been unable to
take advantage of new features in passive safety. However, new
motorbike and scooter designs with safety cells and restraint
systems keep the driver inside the vehicle during an accident and
afford protection from serious injuries.
While head and upper body are well protected in this kind of
vehicle, there is still the risk of injuries to the extremities.
Specially designed knee-cushions keep the lower legs inside the
safety compartment in a side impact or if the vehicle overturns,
which improves the protection of the lower extremities, but the
upright seating position still leads to high loads on the pelvis
and femurs during a frontal impact.
Using numerical and experimental simulations, this study shows
that a knee airbag in combination with a knee-cushion clearly
reduces the loads on the pelvis and femurs during a frontal impact
situation.