Production of Injury in Blunt Frontal Impact

Blunt thoracic impact as experienced by automobile occupants in frontal impact has received considerable research attention over the past 20 years. These efforts have provided the basis for the development of test dummy impact response specifications as well as evaluation criteria to be used in conjunction with the dummy to evaluate the hazard of various crash situations. This paper will attempt to extend the current understanding if thoracic injury production by examining the results of 82 impact tests to determine the effects that several fundamental parameters have on the production of injuries in the thorax.