This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Assessment of a Three-Point Restraint System with a Pre-tensioned Lap Belt and an Inflatable, Force-Limited Shoulder Belt
Technical Paper
2011-22-0007
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
This study investigates the performance of a 3-point restraint system incorporating an inflatable shoulder belt with a nominal 2.5-kN load limiter and a non-inflatable lap belt with a pretensioner (the “Airbelt”). Frontal impacts with PMHS in a rear seat environment are presented and the Airbelt system is contrasted with an earlier 3-point system with inflatable lap and shoulder belts but no load-limiter or pretensioners, which was evaluated with human volunteers in the 1970s but not fully reported in the open literature (the “Inflataband”). Key differences between the systems include downward pelvic motion and torso recline with the Inflataband, while the pelvis moved almost horizontally and the torso pitched forward with the Airbelt. One result of these kinematic differences was an overall more biomechanically favorable restraint loading but greater maximum forward head excursion with the Airbelt. The Airbelt is shown to generate generally lower head, neck, and thoracic injury metrics and PMHS trauma than other, non-inflatable rear-seat restraint concepts (viz., a standard 3-point belt and a pre-tensioned shoulder belt with a progressive load limiter). Further study is needed to evaluate the Airbelt system for different size occupants (e.g., children), non-frontal impact vectors, and for out-of-position occupants and to allow the results with this particular system to be generalized to a broader range of Airbelt designs.
Recommended Content
Authors
- Richard Kent - University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics
- Francisco J. Lopez-Valdes - University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics
- Nate J. Dennis - University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics
- David Lessley - University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics
- Jason Forman - University of Navarra
- Kazuo Higuchi - Takata Corp.
- Hiromasa Tanji - Takata Corp.
- Tadayuki Ato - Takata Corp.
- Hikaru Kameyoshi - Takata Corp.
- Kristy Arbogast - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Citation
Kent, R., Lopez-Valdes, F., Dennis, N., Lessley, D. et al., "Assessment of a Three-Point Restraint System with a Pre-tensioned Lap Belt and an Inflatable, Force-Limited Shoulder Belt," SAE Technical Paper 2011-22-0007, 2011, https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-22-0007.Also In
References
- Adomeit, D. Heger, A. 1975 Motion sequence criteria and design proposals for restraint devices in order to avoid unfavorable biomechanic conditions and submarining Proc. 19th Stapp Car Crash Conference 139 165 SAE Warrendale, PA
- Adomeit, D. 1977 Evaluation methods for the biomechanical quality of restraint systems during frontal impact Proc. 21st Stapp Car Crash Conference 911 932 SAE Warrendale, PA
- Adomeit, D. 1979 Seat design - A significant factor for safety belt effectiveness Proc. 23 rd Stapp Car Crash Conference 39 68 SAE Warrendale, PA
- Armstrong, R. Waters, H. Stapp, J. 1970 Impact tests shown restraining force of legs might be used to reduce crash effects SAE Journal 78 2 32 37
- Burkes, J. 1975a Impact testing of allied chemical “inflataband” with dummies and human volunteers 2 Report DOT HS-801-739 U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Washington, DC
- Burkes, J. Cromack, J. Glenn, T. 1975b Human volunteer testing of the inflatable belt restraint Proc. Assoc. Adv. Auto. Med. Des Plaines, IL
- Carr, R. Phillips, N. 1973 Inflatable restraint concept for general aviation aircraft Report FAARD-73-3 Federal Aviation Administration Washington, DC
- Digges, KH Morris, JB 1991 Opportunities for frontal crash protection at speeds greater than 35 MPH Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 910807 Warrendale, PA
- Durbin, D. 2011 Ford to Offer Inflatable Seat Belts in More Cars Associated Press June 22 2011 June 28 2011 http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=13899351
- Forman, J Michaelson, J Kent, R Kuppa, S Bostrom, O 2008 Occupant Restraint in the Rear Seat: ATD Responses to Standard and Pre-Tensioning, Force-Limiting Belt Restraints Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med 52 141 154
- Forman, J. Lopez-Valdes, F. Lessley, D. Kindig, M. Kent, R. Boström, O. 2009a Rear seat occupant safety: an investigation of a progressive force-limiting, pretensioning 3-point belt system using adult PMHS in frontal sled tests Stapp Car Crash Journal 53 49 74
- Forman, J. Boström, O. Kent, R. 2009b The effect of obesity on the restraint of automobile occupants Annals of Adv. In Auto Med. 53 25 40
- Forman, J. Lopez-Valdes, F. Dennis, N. Kent, R. Tanji, H. Higuchi, K. 2010 An inflatable belt system in the rear seat occupant environment: investigating feasibility and benefit in frontal impact sled tests with a 50th percentile male ATD Annals of Adv. In Auto Med. 54 111 126
- Gennarelli, T. Wodzin, E. 2005 The Abbreviated Injury Scale 2005 Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine Barrington, IL
- Horsch, JD Horn, G McCleary, JD. 1991 Investigation of inflatable belt restraints Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 912905 Warrendale, PA
- Karigiri, S. McCLenathan, R. Kargol, J. Shanmugavelu, I. 1999 Injury mitigating benefits of an inflatable shoulder belt for seat integrated application Society of Automotive Engineers Paper No. 1999-01-0085 Warrendale, PA
- Kent, R. Patrie, J. 2004 Chest deflection tolerance to blunt anterior loading is sensitive to age but not to load distribution Forensic Science International 149 2-3 121 128
- Kent, R. Forman, J. Parent, D. Kuppa, S. 2007 Rear seat occupant protection in frontal crashes and is feasibility Proceedings of the 20th Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Lyon, France
- Kent, R. Forman, J. Parent, D. Kuppa, S. 2008 The feasibility and effectiveness of belt pretensioning and load limiting for adults in the rear seat International Journal of Vehicle Safety 2 4 378 403
- Kent, R. Forman, J. Boström, O. 2010 Is there really a “cushion effect”? A biomechanical investigation of crash injury mechanisms in the obese Obesity 18 749 753
- Lopez-Valdes, F. Forman, J. Kent, R. Bostom, O. Segui-Gomez, M. 2009 A comparison between a child-size PMHS and the Hybrid III 6-year-old in a frontal sled impact Annals of Adv. In Auto Med. 53 237 249
- Lopez-Valdes, F. Forman, J. Boström, O. Bohman, K. Ash, J. Kindig, M. Lamp, J. Kent, R. 2010 The frontal impact response of a booster-seated child-size PMHS Traffic Injury Prevention 11 1 8
- Michaelson, J. Forman, J. Kent, R. Kuppa, S. 2008 Rear seat occupant safety: Kinematics and injury of PMHS restrained by a standard 3-point belt in frontal crashes Stapp Car Crash Journal 52 295 326
- Reed, MP Ebert-Hamilton, SM Schneider, LW Development of ATD Installation Procedures Based on Rear-Seat Occupant Postures Stapp Car Crash J. 49 381 421 Nov. 2005
- Rouhana, S. Bedewi, P. Kankanala, S. Prasad, P. Zwolinski, J. Meduvsky, A. Rupp, J. Jeffreys, T. Schneider, L. 2003 Biomechanics of 4-point seat belt systems in frontal impacts Stapp Car Crash Journal 47 367 399
- Viano, D. Arepally, S. 1990 Assessing the safety performance of occupant restraint systems Paper 902328 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA