Browse Topic: Frontal collisions

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Development of Automotive Hood Using Multi-Material Double Injection Molding – An Overview2026-01-04764/7/2026
This paper presents the multidisciplinary development of a hybrid automotive hood manufactured using double-shot injection molding with overmolded brackets. Conventional steel and aluminum hoods, while structurally reliable, pose challenges in terms of weight reduction, pedestrian head protection, and manufacturing cost. Composite and thermoplastic alternatives supported by computational analysis and advanced molding processes provide opportunities to address these challenges. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to evaluate torsional and bending stiffness, locking load, and crashworthiness, while pedestrian headform simulations following ECE R127 and EEVC WG17 guidelines were conducted to assess compliance with safety regulations. Adhesion and bonding strength of overmolded polymer–polymer interfaces were studied to validate manufacturing feasibility. Results confirm that hybrid hoods fabricated using multi-material double-shot molding can achieve weight reductions of up to 30
Ganesan, Karthikeyan, Seok, Sang Ho, Jo, Hyoung Han
Multi-Physics Topology Optimization and Neural Network–Based Design of Experiments for Lightweight Automotive Cast Components2026-01-05104/7/2026
This paper presents a hybrid optimization framework that integrates Multi-Physics Topology Optimization (MPTO) with a Neural Network–surrogated Design of Experiments (NN-DOE) to enable lightweight structural design while satisfying crashworthiness, durability, and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) requirements under practical casting and packaging constraints. In the proposed MPTO formulation, crash and durability performances are incorporated through equivalent static compliance measures, while NVH performance is assessed using a frequency-domain dynamic stiffness metric, allowing consistent evaluation of trade-offs among competing design requirements. The framework is first demonstrated using a mass-produced passenger-car lower control arm (LCA) as a benchmark component. In this application, MPTO achieves weight reduction under multi-physics objectives by removing non-load-bearing material. Results show that single-discipline optimization produces unbalanced topologies, while
Kim, Hyosig, Senkowski, Andres, Gona, Kiran, Saroha, Lalit, Boraiah, Mahesh
Inertial Pedal Displacement and Brake Switch Activation in Frontal Crash Events2026-01-05414/7/2026
This paper presents research into the inertial displacement of brake pedals and the subsequent activation of brake light switches during crash events. In certain scenarios, such as multiple-impact crashes or crashes with pre-impact interactions such as curb strikes or sideswipes, inertial forces alone may generate sufficient brake pedal movement to trigger the brake switch, activating the brake lights. Such signals may be recorded by an Event Data Recorder (EDR) or observed by witnesses and incorrectly interpreted as an indication of intentional driver braking. To investigate this phenomenon, HYGE sled tests were performed using brake pedal assemblies and associated components from a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and a Cadillac DeVille passenger sedan. The assemblies were subjected to acceleration pulses simulating a frontal impact, with high-speed video used to capture brake pedal displacement and brake light activation. The tests demonstrated that inertial loading from a pulse with a
Walker, James, Duran, Amanda, Barnes, Daniel, Osterhout, Aaron, Clayton, Aidan
Effects of Child Anthropometry, Seatback Angle, Seat Rotation Angle, Seatbelt Force Limiting, and Collision Type on Injury Risk of Child Occupants in Highly Automated Vehicles2026-01-05704/7/2026
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of child anthropometry, seating postures (recline and rotation), seatbelt force limiting, and frontal collision scenarios on the kinematic response and injury risk in highly automated vehicles. The TUST IBMs 6YO-O model was conducted the frontal collisions in sled tests. This simulation matrix includes five percentiles six-year-old occupants (P3, P25, P50, P75, and P97), three seatback angles (20°, 30°, and 45°), four seat rotation angles (0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°), three seatbelt force limiting (2.6 kN, 3.6 kN, and 4.6 kN), and three frontal collision types. Injury risks were assessed including the child occupant's head, neck, chest/abdomen, and lumbar region in each simulation (n=540). The results indicate that the child anthropometry, the seatback angle, and the seat rotation angle have a significant influence on the motion responses. Statistically significant differences between all the groups within each independent variable category were
Wang, Yanxin, Zhao, Hongqian, Li, Haiyan, He, Lijuan, Cui, Shihai, Lv, Wenle
Occupant and Seat Responses in Various Moderate- to High-Speed Rear Impact Conditions: Focus on Head-to-Head Restraint Interactions2026-01-05654/7/2026
Head restraint requirements and designs have evolved to minimize the delay in head support and reduce differential loading in the neck. As a result, they have become bigger, closer to the occupant’s head, and angled forward relative to the seat back. Head restraints have been found missing or detached in the field; they may be removed pre-crash due to occupant comfort issues, or post-crash for better accessibility during extrication. Additionally, although rare, head restraints may become detached in severe rear impacts due to occupant loading. To better understand occupant-to-head restraint dynamic interactions, nine rear sled tests were conducted. The test conditions were selected to represent worst case severe loading scenarios. An instrumented 50th Hybrid III ATD (Anthropomorphic Test Device) was lap-shoulder belted on a right-front seat. The neck was equipped with a bracket and lower neck load cell designed for rear impacts. Three series of sled tests were performed wherein the
Parenteau, Chantal, Burnett, Roger, Davidson, Russell
Statistical Assessment of Pretensioner and Load Limiter Effects on the Large Omnidirectional Child ATD Response in Frontal Impacts2026-01-05504/7/2026
Enhancing child occupant protection requires a clear understanding of how seatbelt restraint parameters influence crash injury metrics. Real-world vehicles mostly include pretensioner and load limiter technologies to mitigate injuries, but rear seat restraints often do not include these. The FMVSS No. 213 test bench closely represents current restraint systems but does not involve such active vehicle restraint features. This study explores the response of the Large Omnidirectional Child ATD to evaluate potential injury mitigation under FMVSS No. 213 frontal sled test conditions. A simulation-based full factorial design was implemented in LS-DYNA to vary pretensioner retraction, retractor load-limiting thresholds, and webbing payout, with injury measures including head acceleration, head excursion, chest compression, and abdominal pressure twin sensors (APTS). Statistical evaluation using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey-Kramer post-hoc tests quantified main and interaction
Khattak, Mohid Muneeb, Bendig, Colleen, Louden, Allison, Noll, Scott
Design and Simulation Analysis of an Integrated Honeycomb-Filled Front Bumper for a Special Vehicle2026-01-04754/7/2026
In frontal collisions of automobiles, the bumper beam at the front of the vehicle plays a crucial role in absorbing energy and protecting the vehicle body during a collision. To enhance the collision resistance of a specific type of special vehicle with a non-load-bearing body structure, this paper focuses on this type of vehicle and conducts a study on the design and collision performance of an integrated vehicle front bumper - anti-collision beam structure based on aluminum alloy additive manufacturing technology. A novel bumper structure is proposed, which integrates the front bumper and the front anti-collision beam of the vehicle and is integrally formed using aluminum alloy additive manufacturing technology. This integrated structure is directly connected to the vehicle frame. Firstly, based on the appearance of the special vehicle body and the form of the front anti-collision beam of traditional passenger vehicles, an integrated design of the vehicle front bumper- anti-collision
王, Xufan, Yuan, Liu-Kai, Zhang, Tangyun, Wang, Tao, Zhang, Ming, Wang, Liangmo
A Study on the Injury Risk of Occupant with Different Head and Neck Rotating Postures under the Frontal Impact Sled Conditions2026-01-05744/7/2026
Drivers obtain road information through head and neck rotation. In order to study the influences of head and neck rotation posture on occupant injury in frontal impact scenario, the THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety) AM50 human body model with five different head and neck rotation postures but without active muscles was adopted to study the biomechanical injury responses of occupant under the frontal impact scenario at 56 km/h in this study. Firstly, the kinematic responses of total body and head acceleration curves at the center of gravity predicted by PMHS (Post Mortem Human Subject) and THUMS AM50 human model under the sled test conditions were compared to verify the simulation model for subsequent study. Then, the THUMS AM50 human model with standard occupant seating posture was adjusted to have five different head and neck rotation postures with 0°, ±20°, and ±40° rotation angle, respectively. Finally, a series of frontal impact sled with or without airbag simulations were
Li, Dongqiang, jiang, Yejie, Tan, Chun, Li, Yanyan, Gong, Chuangye, Wu, Hequan, Jiang, Binhui
High Biofidelity Modification of Thoracolumbar Structure in THOR Model for Reclined Occupant2026-01-01964/7/2026
With the rapid development of automated driving and the increasing adoption of “zero-gravity” seats, the crash safety of highly reclined occupants has become a critical issue. The current THOR dummy, designed for frontal impacts in the standard upright posture, exhibits limitations when directly applied to reclined seating configurations, including insufficient spinal flexion capability and excessive posterior pelvic rotation. In this study, the thoracolumbar spine kinematics of the THUMS human body model, reconstructed against post-mortem human subject (PMHS) tests, were analyzed. A two-segment linear fitting was employed to characterize a “dummy-like” spinal flexion response, yielding a virtual rotational hinge located near the thoracolumbar joint of the original THOR model. The characteristic rotation angle obtained from THUMS showed a strong linear correlation with the flexion moment of the T12–L1 vertebrae. Based on this relationship, the rotational joint of the THOR dummy was
Guo, Wencheng, Kuang, Gaoyuan, Shen, Wenxuan, Tan, Puyuan, Zhou, Qing
Injury Risk Analysis of Occupant with Different Lower Limb Postures under the Frontal Impact Sled Conditions2026-01-05724/7/2026
To investigate the characteristics of injuries sustained by occupant with different lower limb postures under the frontal impact sled conditions. Using the finite element method a series of simulation analyses were conducted on THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety) AM50 human body model with four different postures, including standing posture, lower limb bent at 100°, 90°, and crossed forward-backward, under the frontal impact scenario at 56 km/h in this study. The simulation results indicated that the overall injury risk predicted by the THUMS AM50 huma body model with lower limb crossed forward-backward was higher than that predicted by the model with other postures. The values of injury criteria including of HIC (Head Injury Criterion), head resultant acceleration, and thoracic VC (Viscous Criterion) predicted by the THUMS AM50 huma body model with lower limb crossed forward-backward were highest in these series simulations. Also, the biomechanical responses, including stress or
Li, Dongqiang, jiang, Yejie, Tan, Chun, Li, Yanyan, Li, Yihui, Wu, Hequan, Jiang, Binhui, Zhu, Feng
Revisiting Rear Seat Safety: Field Evaluations of Relative Injury Risk Across Seating Positions and the Integration of Advanced Rear Seat Belt Systems2026-01-05614/7/2026
Despite advances in crash avoidance, occupant restraint systems remain crucial in protecting the motoring public. Following decades of improvement in occupant protection, including several supplemental restraint systems for front seat occupants, the safety of rear seat occupants has recently undergone scrutiny. Studies evaluating rear seat occupant injury risk via field crash data have reported reduced relative safety in rear seating positions and alluded to advanced rear seat restraints, such as pretensioners and load limiters, as potential solutions. While the pursuit of novel technologies has historically improved occupant outcomes, evaluation of new systems in both controlled laboratory environments and field crashes is necessary to understand potential consequences of widespread introduction. This study analyzed the prevalence of advanced seat belts (load limiters and pretensioners) in the rear seating positions in the U.S. fleet. Additionally, occupant injury risk was compared
Rapp van Roden, Elizabeth Ann, Miller, Bruce, Pearson, Joseph, Williamson, James, Brown, Thomas
Machine Learning Based Meta-Analysis of IIHS Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test for Rear Seat Occupant Safety Performance2026-01-05794/7/2026
A machine learning (ML)-based meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate rear seat occupant safety performance in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Moderate Overlap Frontal (MOF) 2.0 crash test. ML models were trained on historical IIHS crash test data to predict rear passenger injury metrics using vehicle architecture, restraint system characteristics, crash pulse parameters, and vehicle kinematics as input features. The models demonstrated high predictive accuracy and were subsequently used in a Sobol sensitivity analysis to identify critical design parameters influencing injury outcomes. The analysis revealed that rear passenger injury metrics were most sensitive to restraint system parameters. Specifically, crash pulse magnitude was the dominant factor for head injury metrics, pretensioner activation time for neck tension force, and lap belt force for the Neck Injury Criterion (Nij). For chest-related metrics—sternum deflection, dynamic belt position, and maximum belt
Lalwala, Mitesh, Kim, Wonhee, Furton, Lisa, Song, Jay
Frontal Crash Classification and Occupant Outcomes from 2017 to 2023 US Field Cases09-14-01-00244/2/2026
This study provides an updated characterization of real-world frontal crash types—considering overlap and obliquity—based on their overall frequency and associated injury outcomes. The results of this study will support an evaluation of how well NHTSA’s frontal oblique crash test condition addresses the current population of serious frontal crashes, as compared to frontal test modes in existing crashworthiness programs. U.S. field crash data from 2017 to 2023 were analyzed to classify frontal crashes by coded damage characteristics. Oblique frontal crashes were defined as those with principal direction of force between 10°–40° and 320°–350°. Non-ejected belted first and second row occupants in model year 2000 and newer passenger vehicles absent a rollover event were included. Occupants were stratified by sex, age, and body mass index, and injury outcomes based on moderate, serious, and fatal thresholds were analyzed across crash configurations. Among the belted first row occupants
Rudd, Rodney W.
Characterization of Front Row Occupants Involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes Compared to ATDs and the U.S. Population09-14-01-00274/1/2026
Currently, adult anthropomorphic test devices used in regulatory and consumer information crash testing in the United States are targeted to represent a small female (5th percentile) and an average male (50th percentile). The anthropometry determined previously might not represent the current population, or as investigated in the current study, those that are at least moderately injured during a motor vehicle crash. The objective of this study was to use field data to determine if the current frontal anthropomorphic test devices are representative. Data from the National Automotive Sampling System–Crashworthiness Data System (2010-2015) and Crash Investigation Sampling System (2017–2023) were queried for sex, age, size, and injury information for front seat occupants in frontal crashes. Additional datasets used were from the National Trauma Data Bank and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to field data, the most frequently injured female and male is approximately
McNeil, Elizabeth, Atwood, Jonathan, Rudd, Rodney, Craig, Matthew
Injury and Kinematics of Obese PMHS in Frontal Impacts with Reclined Seating09-14-01-00034/1/2026
Objective: This study investigated injury outcomes and body kinematics in obese occupants exposed to frontal impacts while seated in reclined postures. With increasing interest in non-traditional seating configurations and a growing population of obese vehicle occupants, the objective was to evaluate how seat stiffness and restraint features influence injury patterns and whole-body excursions. Methods: Nine obese post-mortem human surrogates (PMHS; mean age: 64 years, stature: 1.70 m, body mass: 102 kg, BMI: 35 kg/m2) were tested under frontal impact conditions simulating a delta-V of 50 kph. All specimens were seated on a spring-controlled seat with a 45° reclined seatback and restrained by a three-point belt system with pretensioner and load limiter. Three configurations were evaluated: (1) stiffer seat, (2) softer seat, and (3) stiffer seat with a knee bolster 100 mm from the knees. Each subject underwent one test. Whole-body kinematics were captured using a VICON motion analysis
Somasundaram, Karthik, Yoganandan, Narayan, Pintar, Frank
Improve Safety Balance between Women and Men in Frontal Crashes through Parametric Human Modeling and Adaptive Design Optimization2025-22-00101/23/2026
Objective: Previous studies have reported disparity in injuries between male and female drivers in the risk of certain types of injuries in frontal crashes that may be due to a myriad of sex-related differences, including body size, shape, anatomy, or sitting posture. The objectives of this study are 1) to use mesh-morphing methods to generate a diverse set of human body models (HBMs) representing a wide range of body sizes and shapes for both sexes, 2) conduct population-based frontal crash simulations, and 3) explore adaptive restraint design strategies that may lead to enhanced safety for the whole population while mitigating potential differences in injury risks between male and female drivers Method: A total of 200 HBMs with a wide range of body sizes and shapes were generated by morphing the THUMS v4.1 midsize male model into geometries predicted by the statistical human geometry models. Ten male and ten female HBMs were selected for population-based simulations. An existing
Sun, Wenbo, Hu, Jingwen, Lin, Yang-Shen, Boyle, Kyle, Reed, Matthew, Sun, Zhaonan, Hallman, Jason
Safer Trucks for India: Smart Tech Fusion2026-26-00311/16/2026
Commercial vehicle sector (especially trucks) has a major role in economic growth of a nation. With improving infrastructure, increasing number of trucks on roads, accidents are also increasing. As per RASSI (Road Accident Sampling System India) FY2016-23 database, commercial vehicles are involved in 42% of total accidents on Indian roads. Involvement of trucks (N2 & N3) is over 25% of total accidents. Amongst all accident scenarios of N2 &N3, frontal impacts are the most frequent (26%) and causing severe occupant injuries. Today, truck safety development for frontal impact is based on passive safety regulations (viz. front pendulum – AIS029) and basic safety features like seatbelts. In any truck accident, it is challenging rather impossible to manage comprehensive safety only with passive safety systems due to size and weight. Accident prevention becomes imperative in truck safety development due to extremely high energy involved in front impact scenarios. The paper presents a unique
Joshi, Kedar Shrikant, Gadekar, Ganesh, Date, Atul, Koralla, Sivaprasad
Adaptive Restraints for Equitable Protection2026-26-00151/16/2026
Real-world crashes involve diverse occupants, but traditional restraint systems are designed for a limited range of body types considering the applicable regulations and protocols. While conventional restraints are effective for homogeneous occupant profiles, these systems often underperform in real-world scenarios with diverse demographics, including variations in age, gender, and body morphology. This study addresses this critical gap by evaluating adaptive restraint systems aligned with the forthcoming EURO NCAP 2026 protocols, which emphasize real-world crash diversity and occupant type. Through digital studies of frontal impact scenarios, we analyze biomechanical responses using adaptive restraints across varied occupant demographics, focusing on head and chest injury (e.g., Chest Compression Criterion [CC]). This study used a Design of Experiments (DOE) approach to optimize occupant protection by timing the actuating of these adaptive systems. The results indicate that activating
satija, Anshul, Suryawanshi, Yuvraj, Chavan, Avinash, Rao, Guruprakash
Optimization of Frontal Impact Force Scheme to Accelerate the Target Setting Process for Development of Front-End Structures in Vehicles2026-26-00011/16/2026
A passenger vehicle's front-end structure's structural integrity and crashworthiness are crucial to ensure compliance with various frontal impact safety standards (such as those set by Euro NCAP & IIHS). For a new front-end architecture, design targets must be defined at a component level for crush cans, longitudinal, bumper beam, subframe, suspension tower and backup structure. The traditional process of defining these targets involves multiple sensitivity studies in CAE. This paper explores the implementation of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) in component-level target setting. PINNs integrate the governing equations into neural network training, enabling data-driven models to adhere to fundamental mechanical principles. The underlying physics in our model is based upon a force scheme of a full-frontal impact. A force scheme is a one-dimensional representation of the front-end structure components that simplifies a crash event's complex physics. It uses the dimensional and
Gupta, Ishan, Bhatnagar, Abhinav, Kumar, Ayush
Investigating Pelvic Locking and Torso Kinematics Using Human Body Models in Frontal Impact Scenarios2026-26-00021/16/2026
Occupant Safety systems are usually developed using anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), such as the Hybrid III, THOR-50M, ES-2, and WorldSID. However, in compliance with NCAP and regulatory guidelines, these ATDs are designed for specific crash scenarios, typically frontal and side impacts involving upright occupants. As vehicles evolve (e.g., autonomous layouts, diverse occupant populations), ATDs are proving increasingly inadequate for capturing real-world injury mechanisms. This has led to the adoption of computational Human Body Models (HBMs), such as the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) and Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS), which offer superior anatomical fidelity, variable anthropometry, active muscle behaviour modelling, and improved postural flexibility. HBMs can predict internal injuries that ATDs cannot, making them valuable tools for future vehicle safety development. This study uses a sled CAE simulation environment to analyze the kinematics of the HBMs
Raj, Pavan, Rao, Guruprakash, Pendurthi, Chaitanya Sagar, Nehe, Vaibhav, Chavan, Avinash
Pre-Crash Characteristics of Motorized Two-Wheeler Crashes on Indian Roads2026-26-00341/16/2026
India has emerged as the world’s largest market for motorized two-wheelers (M2Ws) in 2024, reflecting their deep integration into the country’s transportation fabric. However, M2Ws are also a highly vulnerable road user category as according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the fatality share of M2W riders rose alarmingly from 27% in 2011 to 44% in 2022, underlining the urgency of understanding the circumstances that lead to such crashes. This study aims to investigate the pre-crash behavior and crash-phase characteristics of M2Ws using data from the Road Accident Sampling System – India (RASSI), the country’s only in-depth crash investigation database. The analysis covers 3,632 M2Ws involved in 3,307 crash samples from 2011 to 2022, representing approximately 5 million M2Ws nationally. Key variables examined include crash configuration, collision partner, road type, pre-event movement, travel speed, and human contributing factors. The study finds that straight
Govardhan, Rohan, Padmanaban, Jeya, Jethwa, Vaishnav
An Innovative Collision Sensing Architecture for Robust Functionality of Safety Restraint Systems in Different Challenging Real World Accident Scenarios2026-26-00171/16/2026
In emerging markets, especially in India and other similar countries, the growing traffic density on the roads leads to different types of accidents, including frontal head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions, collisions with fixed objects such as electric poles, trees, road guard rails, road dividers, and accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheelers. These accidents could be due to over speeding, distracted driving, violation of traffic rules, and inadequate road infrastructure etc. Providing the necessary safety restraint systems (Airbags and Seat belts) in vehicles and ensuring their robust functionality in different real-world accident scenarios will be challenging for vehicle manufacturers. It is high time to redefine the traditional collision-sensing architecture strategies with a logical approach based on a thorough study of available accident data statistics, types of objects, and scenarios leading to severe accidents. Among these, rear-end
KOVALAM, SUNIL KUMAR
Chest Deflection Mapping between HBM-Connect® 50M and Virtual ATD Models2026-26-00101/16/2026
Human Body Models (HBMs) are increasingly recognized by consumer protection agencies as essential tools for evaluating vehicle safety, complementing the use of traditional Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs). However, HBMs are new for product development and pose challenges in connecting them with the ATDs. These challenges can be overcome if a link is established for the injury metrics between HBMs and ATDs. The study aims to develop a chest deflection mapping function between the HBM Connect® 50M and three ATD models: Hybrid III 50M, THOR-50M and World SID 50M for thoracic assessment in impact scenarios. Several frontal and lateral thorax loading scenarios were selected from the HBM4VT qualification catalogue (Euro NCAP technical bulletin CP 550), including hub impacts and table-top seatbelt loading tests. Matched-pair LS-DYNA simulations were conducted with HBM Connect® 50M and the ATD models recording peak chest deflections for developing the mapping function. In the HBM Connect
Velmurugan, Gopinath, Kumar, Devendra, R, Udhaya Kumar, Kulavi, Pradeep, Soni, Anurag, Tejero de la Piedra, Ricardo, Fu, Stephen, Long, Teng, Arora, Tushar, Jagadish, Renuka, Shah, Chirag
Design and Validation of a Collapsible Brake Pedal System for Lower-Leg Protection in Frontal Impacts2026-26-05001/16/2026
Indian passenger car accident data indicates that approximately 44% of crashes are frontal impacts (Refer fig 1). Among the injuries sustained in these crashes, lower leg injuries are notably critical, contributing to nearly 25% of driver occupant injuries (Refer fig 2). To evaluate such injuries, the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) includes lower leg injury metrics as part of the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier (ODB64) test. While the overall injury performance is assessed at the vehicle level, BNCAP also monitors vehicle interior intrusions—particularly pedal intrusions—as key contributors to lower limb injury severity. A major challenge in frontal crashes is the intrusion of the vehicle's front-end structure into the occupant compartment. Rigid components, particularly the brake pedal assembly, can be displaced rearward during a crash, significantly increasing the risk of lower leg injuries. Therefore, minimizing pedal intrusions into the driver foot-well is critical for
Shetti, Rahul R., Kudale, Shailesh, Naik, Nagaraj, Bisen, Badal, Kotak, Vijay, Dudhewar, Swapnil, Bhagat, Amit, Durgaprasad, HNV
Multi-Material Front Structures: A Pathway to Safer and More Sustainable Vehicle Design2026-26-04561/16/2026
Frontal crash structures play a vital role in occupant safety, but traditional designs often involve a trade-off between structural strength and weight efficiency. In the pursuit of safer and more sustainable mobility, this study explores a physics-based methodology that leverages the principle of dynamic equilibrium to guide the integration of dissimilar materials in front-end vehicle structures. Specifically, examined a novel configuration wherein aluminum High-pressure die cast (single HPDC part) is introduced which covers swan neck region as well as the base of the front longitudinal member, while retaining steel in the frontal crush zone. This arrangement aims to redistribute crash loads and control deformation mechanisms, enabling improved energy absorption without compromising structural integrity. To evaluate the proposed strategy, a series of detailed finite element simulations were conducted using LS-DYNA, a widely adopted tool for vehicle crash analysis. The results reveal
Revanth, Goshika, Bhagat, Milind, Joshi, Vikas, Mankhair, Abhijit, Sudarshan, B.Sudarshan, Kollipara, Jahanavi
Pulse and Polynomial Functions to Predict Vehicle Acceleration Using Event Data Recorder Delta-V in Frontal and Rear-End Collisions2025-01-50466/27/2025
The lack of recorded acceleration and limited Delta-V (ΔV) resolution in many vehicle event data recorders necessitates the development of a method to predict continuous vehicle acceleration based on ΔV responses. This study developed a method of obtaining continuous acceleration by regressing pulse functions (triangular, half-sine, haversine) and polynomial functions (orders 3–6) to a ΔV curve and deriving the corresponding acceleration–time curve. The effectiveness of this method was demonstrated using real-world ΔV response data from front and rear-end collisions. Comparisons were performed between peak and average acceleration values from each front and rear-end crash pulse. Results indicated that a triangular pulse function predicted similar peak acceleration values to the vehicle’s actual acceleration in frontal and rear-end impacts. Average acceleration in frontal impacts was best predicted utilizing a fifth-order polynomial, while a sixth-order polynomial demonstrated the best
Westrom, Clyde, Adanty, Kevin, Shimada, Sean D.
A Low-Entry Bus Body Structure Performance under the Conditions of the New Car Assessment Program Frontal Crash Tests09-13-02-00074/9/2025
The New Car Assessment Program (e.g., US NCAP and EuroNCAP) frontal crash tests are an essential part of vehicle safety evaluations, which are mandatory for the certification of civil means of transport prior to normal road exploitation. The presented research is focused on the behavior of a tubular low-entry bus frame during a frontal impact test at speeds of 32 and 56 km/h, perpendicular to a rigid wall surface. The deformation zones in the bus front and roof parts were estimated using Ansys LS-DYNA and considered such factors as the additional mass (1630 kg) of electric batteries following the replacement of a diesel engine with an electric one. This caused stabilization of the electric bus body along the transverse axis, with deviations decreased by 19.9%. Speed drop from 56 to 32 km/h showed a reduction of the front window sill deformations from 172 to 132 mm, and provided a twofold margin (159.4 m/s2) according to the 30g ThAC criterion of R80. This leads to the conclusion about
Holenko, Kostyantyn, Dykha, Aleksandr, Koda, Eugeniusz, Kernytskyy, Ivan, Royko, Yuriy, Horbay, Orest, Berezovetska, Oksana, Rys, Vasyl, Humeniuk, Ruslan, Berezovetskyi, Serhii, Chalecki, Marek
Application of 1.7GPa Martensitic Steel in Dash Lower Cross Member to Enhance Automotive Frontal Impact Safety2025-01-82184/1/2025
The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to a significant increase in vehicle mass due to the integration of large and heavy battery systems. This increase in mass has raised concerns about collision energy and the associated risks, particularly in high-speed impacts. As a consequence, crashworthiness evaluations, especially front-impact regulations, have become increasingly stringent. Crash speed between the vehicle and the Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier (MPDB) is increasing, reflecting the growing emphasis on safety in the automotive industry. Moreover, a new frontal pole crash scenario is under consideration for future regulatory standards, highlighting the continuous evolution of crash testing protocols. To ensure occupant protection and battery safety, manufacturers have traditionally used Hot Blow Forming technology for producing closed-loop dash lower cross member components. However, this process is both costly and energy-intensive, necessitating more
Lee, Jongmin, Kim, Donghyun, Jang, Minho, Kim, Geunho, Seongho, Yoo, Kim, Kyu-Rae
The Influence of Reclined Seatback Angles on Occupant Injury Risks in Frontal Impacts2025-01-87324/1/2025
The reclined seatbacks will be increasingly used with the advanced technologies of the intelligent automobile. The occupant collision protection must rise to the challenge facing to the new impact scenarios. It is necessary to understand the injury mechanisms of the reclined occupants in order to design the resistant system and testing protection regulations. In this study, simulation tests were conducted for the Frontal Full Width Impact (FRB) and the Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier Frontal Impact (MPDB) as specified in the China New Car Assessment Programme (C-NCAP, 2021 version). The simulation used the biomechanical model of the 5th female occupant exhibiting the detailed anatomical structures and a seat model with large-angle seatback. The occupant injury risks and mechanisms with 25°, 45° and 60° seating postures were investigated by analyzing the kinematic and biomechanical parameters, and the influence of the seatback angle on occupant injury was discussed. The results
Wang, Yanxin, Pan, Ruyang, Lin, Yuyang, Liu, Yutao, He, Lijuan, Wang, Zhenqiang, zhu, he, Liu, Chong, Li, Kun, Lv, Wenle
Analysis and Comparison of Metrics to Assess Submarining Behavior with the Hybrid III 5th Percentile Dummy in the Rear Seat2025-01-87114/1/2025
Real-world data show that abdominal loading due to a poor pelvis-belt restraint interaction is one of the primary causes of injury in belted rear-seat occupants, highlighting the importance of being able to assess it in crash tests. This study analyzes the phenomenon of submarining using video, time histories, and statistical analysis of data from a Hybrid III 5th female dummy seated in the rear seat of passenger vehicles in moderate overlap frontal crash tests. This study also proposes different metrics that can be used for detecting submarining in full-scale crash tests. The results show that apart from the high-speed videos, when comparing time-series graphs of various metrics, using a combination of iliac and lap belt loads was the most reliable method for detecting submarining. Five metrics from the dynamic sensors (the maximum iliac moment, maximum iliac force drop in 1 ms, time for 80% drop from peak iliac force, maximum pelvis rotation, and lumbar shear force) were all
Jagtap, Sushant R, Jermakian, Jessica S, Edwards, Marcy A
A Sled Test Methodology for 25% Offset Crash Tests2025-01-87374/1/2025
Sled crash tests are an important tool to develop automotive restraint systems. Compared with full-scale crash tests, the sled test has a shorter development cycle of the restraint system and lower cost. The objective of the present study is to create a cost-effective sled test methodology, calculate the optimal static yaw angle and loading curves, and analyze the motion response and injuries of the dummy in the small overlap crash test. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology was verified under two typical small overlap frontal crash modes: “energy-absorption” and “sideswipe”. The results show that with the calculated yaw angle α, the HIC was different from the small overlap crash model, but all remaining indices were within 5% of the injury criteria. All International Organization for Standardization (ISO) values between the combined accelerations of all parts of the dummy and those of the basic model exceeded 0.75, and some values were above 0.8. Therefore, the proposed sled
Yu, Liu, Chen, Jianzhuo, Wan, Ming Xin, Fan, Tiqiang, Yang, Peilong, Nie, Zhenlong, Ren, Lihai, Cheng, James Chih
The Influence of out-of-Position Displacement during Emergency Braking on Occupant Whiplash Injury in Subsequent Rear-End Collisions2025-01-87204/1/2025
In the pre-crash emergency braking scenario, the occupant inside the vehicle will move forward due to inertia, deviating from the standard upright seating position for which conventional restraint systems are designed. Previous studies have mainly focused on the influence of out-of-position (OOP) displacement on occupant injuries in frontal collisions, and provided solutions such as active pretensioning seatbelts (APS). But little attention has been paid to the influence of OOP on whiplash injury during a subsequent rear-end collision. To investigate the forward OOP impact on whiplash injuries and the effectiveness of APS in this accident scenario, a vehicle interior model with an active human body model (AHBM) was setup in the MADYMO simulation platform. Different braking strengths (0.8g and 1.1g), APS triggering times (from 0.2s before to 0.2s after the braking initiation) and pretensioning forces (from 100N to 600N) were input to the simulation matrix. The occupant’s forward OOP
Fei, Jing, Qiu, Hang, Wang, Peifeng, Liu, Yu, Cheng, James Chih, Zhou, Qing, Tan, Puyuan
Literature Review and Framework for Identifying Seat Belt Misuse and Misrouting in Frontal Collisions2025-01-87214/1/2025
The effect of seat belt misuse and/or misrouting is important to consider because it can influence occupant kinematics, reduce restraint effectiveness, and increase injury risk. As new seatbelt technologies are introduced, it is important to understand the prevalence of seatbelt misuse. This type of information is scarce due to limitations in available field data coding, such as in NASS-CDS and FARS. One explanation may be partially due to assessment complexity in identifying misuse and/or misrouting. An objective of this study was to first identify types of lap-shoulder belt misuse/misrouting and associated injury patterns from a literature review. Nine belt misuse/misrouting scenarios were identified including shoulder belt only, lap belt only, or shoulder belt under the arm, for example, while belt misrouting included lap belt on the abdomen, shoulder belt above the breasts, or shoulder belt on the neck. Next, the literature review identified various methods used to assess misuse
Gu, Emily, Parenteau, Chantal
A Study on Affections of Active Neck Muscle Force on Neck Injury Responses in Frontal Impact with Automatic Emergency Braking Conditions2025-01-87424/1/2025
Neck injury is one of the most common injuries in traffic accidents, and its severity is closely related to the posture of the occupant at the time of impact. In the current era of smart vehicle, the triggered AEB and the occupant's active muscle force will cause the head and neck to be out of position which has significant affections on the occurrence and severity of neck injury responses. Therefore, it is very important to study the influences of active muscle force on neck injury responses in in frontal impact with Automatic Emergency Braking conditions. Based on the geometric characteristics of human neck muscles in the Zygote Body database, the reasonable neck muscle physical parameters were obtained firstly. Then a neck finite element model (FEM) with active muscles was developed and verified its biofidelity under various impact conditions, such as frontal, side and rear-end impacts. Finally, using the neck FEM with or without active muscle force, a comparative study was
Junpeng, Xu, Gan, Qiuyu, Jiang, Binhui, Zhu, Feng
A Preliminary Study of Occupant Kinematics and Injuries in a Frontal Crash with Occupant Face-to-Face Scenario2025-01-87364/1/2025
This paper investigates a novel seating arrangement where occupants face each other, focusing on occupant safety during a 56 km/h frontal impact, a standard test condition for assessing crashworthiness. A preliminary study was carried out, examining three distinct cases: a forward-facing 50th percentile occupant in third row seat, a rear-facing 50th percentile occupant in second row seat, and the interaction between these two occupant orientations. The study utilized both elastic flexible and rigid seat designs to analyze the impact on occupant kinematics and injury outcomes. The results demonstrate that the seating position has a significant influence on occupant injuries. Rear-facing occupants are primarily at risk due to seat design, whereas forward-facing occupants face a higher risk of injury from the increased space between occupants, lacking a reactive surface to mitigate impact forces. Notably, direct interaction between occupants did not result in severe injuries. However
Liu, Chong, Li, Kun, Liu, Yutao, Lv, Xiaojiang, Wang, Yonghui, Zhou, Dayong, Yang, Heping
Analyzing EV Battery Package Responses during Side Pole Impacts with Multiple Speeds and Locations2025-01-87304/1/2025
Electric vehicles (EVs) have experienced significant growth, and the battery safety of EVs has drawn increased attention. However, the mechanical responses of battery during crashes have rarely been studied. Hence, the objective of this study was to understand EV battery package mechanics during side-pole crashes at different impact locations and speeds beyond regulated side-pole test with one specific speed and one location. An EV finite element (FE) model with a battery package was used. Side-pole impact simulations were conducted at four impact locations, including the baseline impact location according to side-pole impact regulation, plus three positions by moving the rigid pole 400 mm toward the back of the EV and moving the pole 400 and 800 mm toward the front of the EV. In addition, the impact velocities at 32, 50, and 80 km/h were simulated. Based on simulations, the peak relative displacement, the maximum change in gap between batteries, the maximum change in gap between the
Chen, Jian, Bian, Kewei, Mao, Haojie
Predicting Head Injury Criterion in Real-World Frontal Impacts2025-01-87094/1/2025
Research on modeling head injury metrics and head acceleration waveforms from real-world collisions has been limited compared to vehicle crash pulses. Prior studies have used rectangular, triangular, polynomial, half-sine, and haversine pulse functions to model vehicle crash pulses and have employed more complex approximations for head injury metrics. This study aimed to develop a method to predict 15 ms Head Injury Criterion (HIC15) in frontal passenger vehicle impacts using these simple pulse functions, where only occupant peak head acceleration and head impact duration are known. Vehicle crash tests from the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) were selected for frontal impacts that included driver occupants. Head acceleration and shoulder belt load channels of Hybrid III 50th percentile male anthropomorphic test devices were collected and separated for training a set of ratios and testing their performance. Rectangular, triangular, quadratic, half-sine, and haversine pulse functions
Westrom, Clyde, Tanczos, Rachel, Adanty, Kevin, Shimada, Sean
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Assessing the Efficacy of Non-Impact Testing for Evaluating the Performance of Frontal Collision Mitigation Technology2025-01-80564/1/2025
As Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems become standard equipment in more light duty vehicles, the ability to evaluate these systems efficiently is becoming critical to regulatory agencies and manufacturers. A key driver of the practicality of evaluating these systems’ performance is the potential collision between the subject vehicle and test target. AEB performance can depend on vehicle-to-vehicle closing speeds, crash scenarios, and nuanced differences between various situational and environmental factors. Consequently, high speed impacts that may occur while evaluating the performance of an AEB system, as a result of partial or incomplete mitigation by an AEB activation, can cause significant damage to both the test vehicle and equipment, which may be impractical. For tests in which impact with the test target is not acceptable, or as a means of increasing test count, an alternative test termination methodology may be used. One such method constitutes the application of a late
Kuykendal, Michelle, Easter, Casey, Koszegi, Giacomo, Alexander, Ross, Paradiso, Marc, Scally, Sean
Analysis of Speeding and Crashes on Bridges in Mugling to Narayanghat Highway Segment in Nepal09-13-01-00023/3/2025
Driving speed affects road safety, impacting crash severity and the likelihood of involvement in accidents on highway bridges. However, their impacts remain unclear due to inconsistent topography and consideration of crash types. This study aimed to identify the status of accidents and factors associated with accidents occurring on bridges along the Mugling to Narayanghat highway segment in Nepal. The study area involves the selected highway segment stretching from Aptari junction (CH: 2+42) to Mugling junction (CH: 35+677). Spanning 33.25 km, the road traverses through both hilly and Terai regions. The study employs descriptive and correlation statistics to analyze crash data from 2018 to 2023, aiming to achieve its research objectives. The study reveals overspeeding as the primary cause of crashes, notably head-on and rear-end collisions. Two-wheelers frequently exceed the speed limit of 40 km/h limit (29–88 km/h), and four-wheelers do similarly (18–81 km/h), leading to overspeeding
Giri, Om Prakash, Shahi, Padma Bahadur, Kunwar, Deepak Bahadur
Analysis of Traction Battery Damage Value Based on Frontal Impact2025-01-70081/31/2025
As the adoption of new energy vehicles expands globally, the safety performance of their traction batteries has garnered significant attention due to the potential hazards posed by road debris and collisions. These safety concerns have become a major impediment to the advancement of these vehicles. This paper aims to analyze the impact resilience of traction batteries under frontal collision scenarios to evaluate their safety under specific conditions. A multi-level evaluation model for traction batteries is developed and integrated with computer tomography system analysis to investigate the extent of damage sustained by the battery system during frontal impacts. Utilizing a structured battery system damage assessment method, the study provides a quantitative analysis of the damage severity resulting from collisions. This offers both theoretical insights and practical guidance for the testing and evaluation of traction batteries.
Yan, Pengfei, Wang, Fang, Ma, Tianyi, Han, Ce, He, Gaiyun
Biofidelity Assessment of the GHBMC M50-O Seated in a Honda Accord Seat in a Rear-Facing Configuration during a High-Speed Frontal Impact09-12-03-001412/10/2024
Vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) may have non-traditional seating configurations, such as rear-facing for front-row occupants. The objectives of this study are (1) to generate biomechanical corridors from kinematic data obtained from postmortem human subjects (PMHS) sled tests and (2) to assess the biofidelity of the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) 50th male (M50-O) v6.0 seated in an upright (25-deg recline) Honda Accord seat with a fixed D-ring (FDR) in a 56 km/h rear-facing frontal impact. A phase optimization technique was applied to mass-normalized PMHS data for generating corridors. After replicating the experimental boundary conditions in the computational finite element (FE) environment, the performance of the rigidized FE seat model obtained was validated using LSTC Hybrid III FE model simulations and comparison with experiments. The most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Biofidelity Ranking System (BRS) method was
Pradhan, Vikram, Ramachandra, Rakshit, Stammen, Jason, Kracht, Corey, Moorhouse, Kevin, Bolte, John H., Kang, Yun-Seok
Summary of Poster Abstracts09-12-02-002211/12/2024
Seventeen research posters were prepared and presented by student authors. The posters covered a wide breadth of works-in-progress and recently completed projects. Topics included a variety of body regions and injury scenarios: Biofidelity Corridors of Powered Two-Wheeler Rider Kinematics from Full-Scale Crash Testing Using Postmortem Human Subjects, Meringolo et al. Cervical Vertebral and Spinal Cord Injuries Remain Overrepresented in Rollover Occupants, Al-Salehi et al. The Effect of Surfaces on Knee Biomechanics during a 90-Degree Cut, Rhodes et al. Investigating the Variabilities in the Spinal Cord Injury in Pig Models Using Benchtop Test Model and Ultrasound Analyses, Borjali et al. Relationship between Tackle Form and Head Kinematics in Youth Football, Holcomb et al. Comparing Motor Vehicle Collision Injury Incidence between Pregnant and Nonpregnant Individuals: A Case–Control Study, Levine et al. Development of an Automated Pipeline to Characterize Full Rib Cage Shape
Bautsch, Brian T., Cripton, Peter A., Cronin, Duane
Intracranial Displacements due to Blunt Force Impact in a Postmortem Human Surrogate Brain09-12-02-001111/12/2024
Prevention and diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are reliant on understanding the biomechanical response of the brain to external stimuli. Finite element models (FEM) and artificial head surrogates are becoming a common method of investigating the dynamic response of the brain to injurious impact and inertial stimuli. The accuracy and validity of these models is reliant on postmortem human subject (PMHS) research to produce biofidelic brain tissue responses. Previous PMHS research has been performed to measure intracranial pressures, displacements, and strains when subjected to impact and inertial loading; however, there remains a need for additional PMHS datasets to improve our understanding of the brain’s dynamics. The purpose of this study is to measure the relative brain–skull displacement in a PMHS specimen when subjected to blunt force impacts. A high-speed X-ray (HSXR) imaging system and embedded radiopaque elastomeric markers were used to record PMHS impacts at
Demiannay, Jean-Jacques, Rovt, Jennifer, Brannen, MacKenzie, Xu, Sheng, Kang, Gia, Yip, Ashley, Azadi, Amir Hossein, Dehghan, Parisa, Goodwin, Shannon, Taylor, Reggie, Poon, Katherine, Brien, Susan, Hoshizaki, Blaine, Karton, Clara, Petel , Oren
Effects of Head Restraint (HR) Interference on Child Restraint System (CRS) Performance in Frontal and Far-Side Impacts2024-22-000310/10/2024
Forward-facing child restraint systems (FF CRS) and high-back boosters often contact the vehicle seat head restraint (HR) when installed, creating a gap between the back surface of the CRS and the vehicle seat. The effects of HR interference on dynamic CRS performance are not well documented. The objective of this study is to quantify the effects of HR interference for FF CRS and high-back boosters in frontal and far-side impacts. Production vehicle seats with prominent, removeable HRs were attached to a sled buck. One FF CRS and two booster models were tested with the HR in place (causing interference) and with the HR removed (no interference). A variety of installation methods were examined for the FF CRS. A total of twenty-four tests were run. In frontal impacts, HR interference produced small but consistent increases in frontal head excursion and HIC36. Head excursions were more directly related to the more forward initial position rather than kinematic differences caused by HR
Mansfield, Julie A.
Evaluation of DAMAGE Algorithm in Frontal Crashes2023-22-00064/17/2024
With the current trend of including the evaluation of the risk of brain injuries in vehicle crashes due to rotational kinematics of the head, two injury criteria have been introduced since 2013 – BrIC and DAMAGE. BrIC was developed by NHTSA in 2013 and was suggested for inclusion in the US NCAP for frontal and side crashes. DAMAGE has been developed by UVa under the sponsorship of JAMA and JARI and has been accepted tentatively by the EuroNCAP. Although BrIC in US crash testing is known and reported, DAMAGE in tests of the US fleet is relatively unknown. The current paper will report on DAMAGE in NCAP-like tests and potential future frontal crash tests involving substantial rotation about the three axes of occupant heads. Distribution of DAMAGE of three-point belted occupants without airbags will also be discussed. Prediction of brain injury risks from the tests have been compared to the risks in the real world. Although DAMAGE correlates well with MPS in the human brain model across
Prasad, Priya, Barbat, Saeed D., Kalra, Anil, Dalmotas, Dainius J.
Torque Vectoring for Lane-Changing Control during Steering Failures in Autonomous Commercial Vehicles2024-01-23284/9/2024
Lane changing is an essential action in commercial vehicles to prevent collisions. However, steering system malfunctions significantly escalate the risk of head-on collisions. With the advancement of intelligent chassis control technologies, some autonomous commercial vehicles are now equipped with a four-wheel independent braking system. This article develops a lane-changing control strategy during steering failures using torque vectoring through brake allocation. The boundaries of lane-changing capabilities under different speeds via brake allocation are also investigated, offering valuable insights for driving safety during emergency evasions when the steering system fails. Firstly, a dual-track vehicle dynamics model is established, considering the non-linearity of the tires. A quintic polynomial approach is employed for lane-changing trajectory planning. Secondly, a hierarchical controller is designed. The upper layer employs a three-stage cascaded proportional integral controller
Lu, Ao, Li, Runfeng, Yinggang, Xu, Nie, Zexin, Li, Peilin, Tian, Guangyu
Comparison of the Responses of the Thorax and Pelvis of the GHBMC M50 -O Using Two Different Foam Materials in a High-Speed Rear Facing Frontal Impact Scenario2024-01-26474/9/2024
Due to the lack of biofidelity seen in GHBMC M50-O in rear-facing impact simulations involving interaction with the seat back in an OEM seat, it is important to explore how the boundary conditions might be affecting the biofidelity and potentially formulate methods to improve biofidelity of different occupant models in the future while also maintaining seat validity. This study investigated the influence of one such boundary condition, which is the seat back foam material properties, on the thorax and pelvis kinematics and injury outcomes of the GHBMC 50th M50-O model in a high-speed rear-facing frontal impact scenario, which involves severe occupant loading of the seat back. Two different seat back foam materials were used – a stiff foam with high densification and a soft foam with low densification. The peak magnitudes of the T-spine resultant accelerations of the GHBMC M50-O increased with the use of soft foam as compared to stiff foam. However, the change in the average biofidelity
Pradhan, Vikram, Ramachandra, Rakshit, Kang, Yun Seok
Analysis of Occupants by Seating Location, Restraint Use and Injury Risk in Tow-Away Crashes2024-01-27524/9/2024
This study was conducted to assess the occupant restraint use and injury risks by seating position. The results were used to discuss the merit of selected warning systems. The 1989-2015 NASS-CDS and 2017-2021 CISS data were analyzed for light vehicles in all, frontal and rear tow-away crashes. The differences in serious injury risk (MAIS 3+F) were determined for front and rear seating positions, including the right, middle and left second-row seats. Occupancy and restraint use were determined by model year groups. Occupancy relative to the driver was 27% in the right-front (RF) and 17% in the second row in all crashes. About 39% of second-row passengers were in the left seat, 15% in the center seat and 47% in the right seat. Restraint use was lower in the second row compared to front seats. It was 43% in the right-front and 32% in the second-row seats in all crashes involving serious injury. Restraint use increased with model year groups. It was 63% in the ‘61-‘89 MY vehicles and 90
Parenteau, Chantal, Burnett, Roger
Effects of Anthropometry and Passive Restraint Deployment Timing on Occupant Metrics in Moderate-Severity Offset Frontal Collisions2024-01-27494/9/2024
There are established federal requirements and industry standards for frontal crash testing of motor vehicles. Consistently applied methods support reliability, repeatability, and comparability of performance metrics between tests and platforms. However, real world collisions are rarely identical to standard test protocols. This study examined the effects of occupant anthropometry and passive restraint deployment timing on occupant kinematics and biomechanical loading in a moderate-severity (approximately 30 kph delta-V) offset frontal crash scenario. An offset, front-to-rear vehicle-to-vehicle crash test was performed, and the dynamics of the vehicle experiencing the frontal collision were replicated in a series of three sled tests. Crash test and sled test vehicle kinematics were comparable. A standard or reduced-weight 50th percentile male Hybrid III ATD (H3-50M) or a standard 5th percentile female Hybrid III ATD (H3-5F) was belted in the driver’s seating position. In the crash test
Courtney, Amy, Crosby, Charles, Miller, Bruce, Osterhout, Aaron, Walker, James, Gondek, Jonathon
Occupant Kinematics During Chain-Collisions: Discrete vs Combined Collisions2024-01-24894/9/2024
There is little prior research into chain-collisions, despite their relatively large contribution to injury and harm in motor-vehicle collisions. This study conducted a series of rear-impact, front-impact, and chain-collision impacts using a bumper car ride at an active amusement park as a proxy for automobiles. The purpose was to begin to identify the threshold time range when separate, discrete collisions transition into a hybrid or combined chain-collision mode and provide bases for future analyses. The test series consisted of rear impacts into an occupied target vehicle from a driven bullet vehicle; frontal impacts into a perimeter barrier (wall); chain-collisions consisting of a driven bullet vehicle striking an occupied primary target vehicle, which then collided with a non-occupied secondary target vehicle; and chain-collisions consisting of a driven bullet vehicle striking an occupied primary target vehicle which then collided with a wall. Time between collisions was adjusted
Bussone, William R., Koiler, Reza, Benda, Jamie, Carney, Nicholas, Geffard, Andres, Sam, Samantha
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