Browse Topic: Protective systems

Items (4,062)
Bendix® EC-80™ and certain EC-60™ ABS control units contain an event data recorder called the Bendix® Data Recorder (BDR). Raw BDR data is obtained using commercially available software, however, the translation of the raw data into an event report has only been performed by the manufacturer. In this paper, the raw data structures of the commercially available datasets are examined. It is demonstrated that the data follows uniform and repeatable patterns. The raw BDR data is converted into a conventional report and then validated against translation reports performed by the manufacturer. The techniques outlined in this research allow investigators to access and analyze BDR records independently of the manufacturer and in a way previously not possible.
DiSogra, MatthewHirsch, JeffreyYeakley, Adam
A total of 368 frontal New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests (including 24 tests with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)) with high-resolution load cell data were analyzed to investigate vehicle crash compatibility, especially between Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) and BEVs. An Indirect Frontal Crash Model (IFCM) for Full-Overlap (FO) Vehicle-to-Moving Deformable Barrier (V2MDB) using load cell data from frontal NCAP tests was developed to assess vehicle aggressivity. An analytical solution of the IFCM for FO/V2MDB was obtained and used to develop a new aggressivity metric. In addition, the Max. Standard Deviation (SD) of load cell forces was used to assess vehicle front-end homogeneity. In the case studies, vehicle compatibility was assessed by the new aggressivity metric and Max. SD, along with typical frontal crash metrics.
Park, Chung-Kyu
The primary function of an Airbag Control Module (ACM), referred to as the Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) by General Motors (GM), is to detect crashes, discriminate crashes, evaluate crash severities, deploy the appropriate restraints, including airbags and pretensioners, and perform system diagnostics. A secondary function of the SDM is to act as an Event Data Recorder (EDR) which records data during the time periods just prior to (pre-crash) and during a crash event. This data consists of restraint and vehicle system data which is collected, processed, and stored in the EDR. Data stored in the EDR is intended to be retrieved after a crash. This data provides operational information on the vehicle’s occupant protection system and other vehicle systems to assess system performance, aid in crash reconstruction, and support improved vehicle safety. A series of vehicle test maneuvers were conducted while injecting a non-deployment crash pulse directly into the SDM to cause the SDM to
Smyth, BrianCrosby, Charles LBickhaus, RyanSmith, JamesEdmunds, DustinFloyd, DonaldModi, VipulOutlaw, RaShawndra D.Wright, Jeff
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, LiuChen, JianzhuoWan, Ming XinFan, TiqiangYang, PeilongNie, ZhenlongRen, LihaiCheng, James Chih
Theory and principles of occupant protection for automobiles in rear-end collisions have experienced significant evolution over the decades. Performance of the seatback, specifically the stiffness of the structure, during such a collision has been a subject of particular interest and debate among design engineers, accident reconstruction experts, critics, etc. The majority of current seat designs rely on plastic deformation of the seatback structure to protect the occupant from the dynamics of the crash. In attempt to highlight and provide background information for understanding this subject, this work highlights significant events, research, and publications over the past five decades to illustrate how this subject, automobile design, government regulation and public opinion has evolved. It is observed that technology and design for improving rear-impact protection has received less attention than collisions of other principal directions of force. The different types of
Warner, Wyatt
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, YanxinPan, RuyangLin, YuyangLiu, YutaoHe, LijuanWang, Zhenqiangzhu, heLiu, ChongLi, KunLv, Wenle
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 RJermakian, Jessica SEdwards, Marcy A
With the increasing adoption of Zero-Gravity Seats in intelligent cockpits, there is a growing concern over the safety of occupants in reclined postures during collisions. The newly released anthropomorphic test device (ATD), THOR-AV, has modified the neck, spine, and pelvis structures to better match reclined postures. This study aims to investigate the changes in kinematic response and injury metrics for occupants in reclined postures, through high-speed frontal sled tests utilizing the THOR-AV. The tests were conducted using an adjustable rigid seat with a zero-gravity characteristic and an integrated three-point seat belt. Six tests were performed across four seat configurations: Standard, Semi-Reclined, Reclined, and Zero-gravity postures. The input acceleration pulse for these tests was derived from the equivalent double trapezoidal waveform of the Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier (MPDB) test. Data from sensors and high-speed video were collected for analysis. The results
Wang, QiangLiu, YuFei, JingYang, XiaotingWang, PeifengBai, Zhonghao
Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has many applications in automotive industry including electrical harnesses, door handles, seat and head rest covers, and instrument panel (IP) and other interior trim. In IP applications, the PVC skin plays a critical role in passenger airbag deployment (PAB) by tearing along the scored edge of the PAB door and allowing the door to open and the airbag to inflate to protect the occupant. As part of the IP, the PVC skin may be exposed to elevated temperatures and ultraviolet (UV) radiation during the years of the vehicle life cycle which can affect the PVC material properties over time and potentially influence the kinematics of the airbag deployment. Chemical and thermal aging of plasticized PVC materials have been studied in the past, yet no information is found on how the aging affects mechanical properties at high rates of loading typical for airbag deployment events. This paper compares mechanical properties of the virgin PVC-based IP skin
G, KarthiganSavic, VesnaRavichandran, Gowrishankar
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to update the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 207. Part of the ANPRM is to assess the merit of conducting quasi static body block seat pull tests and conducting FMVSS 301 rear crash tests at 80 km/h or higher with a 95th percentile ATD lap-shoulder belted in the front seats and limiting seatback deflection to 15 to 25 degrees. Prior to updating regulations, it is important to understand the seating design history and implications. This study was conducted to provide a historical background on seat design and performance using literature and test data. One objective was to first define the terminology used to describe occupant kinematics in rear crashes. Secondly, seat design evolution is then discussed. Third, test methods and test results were summarized, and fourth, the field performance are synopsized and discussed with respect to 2nd row occupant
Parenteau, ChantalBurnett, RogerDavidson, Russell
Vehicle restraint systems, such as seat belts and airbags, play a crucial role in managing crash energy and protecting occupants during vehicle crashes. Designing an effective restraint system for a diverse population is a complex task. This study demonstrates the practical implementation of state-of-the-art Machine Learning (ML) techniques to optimize vehicle restraint systems and improve occupant safety. An ML-based surrogate model was developed using a small Design of Experiments (DOE) dataset from finite element human body model simulations and was employed to optimize a vehicle restraint system. The performance of the ML-optimized restraint system was compared to the baseline design in a real-world crash scenario. The ML-based optimization showed potential for further enhancement in occupant safety over the baseline design, specifically for small-female occupant. The optimized design reduced the joint injury probability for small female passenger from 0.274 to 0.224 in the US NCAP
Lalwala, MiteshLin, Chin-HsuDesai, MeghaRao, Shishir
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, JingQiu, HangWang, PeifengLiu, YuCheng, James ChihZhou, QingTan, Puyuan
The integrated vehicle crash safety design provides longer pre-crash preparation time and design space for the in-crash occupant protection. However, the occupant’s out-of-position displacement caused by vehicle’s pre-crash emergency braking also poses challenges to the conventional restraint system. Despite the long-term promotion of integrated restraint patterns by the vehicle manufacturers, safety regulations and assessment protocols still basically focus on traditional standard crash scenarios. More integrated crash safety test scenarios and testing methods need to be developed. In this study, a sled test scenario representing a moderate rear-end collision in subsequence of emergency braking was designed and conducted. The bio-fidelity of the BioRID II ATD during the emergency braking phase is preliminarily discussed and validated through comparison with a volunteer test. The final forward out-of-position displacement of the BioRID II ATD falls within the range of volunteer
Fei, JingWang, PeifengQiu, HangLiu, YuShen, JiajieCheng, James ChihZhou, QingTan, Puyuan
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, Emilyparenteau, Chantal
Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structures have gained significant attention in recent years due to their excellent mechanical properties, lightweight characteristics, and potential for energy absorption in various engineering applications, particularly in automotive safety. This study explores the design, manufacturing, and mechanical performance of both general and hybrid TPMS structures for energy absorption. Three types of fundamental TPMS unit cells—Primitive, Gyroid, and IWP—were modeled using implicit functions and combined to form hybrid structures. The hybrid designs were optimized by employing Sigmoid functions to achieve smooth transitions between different unit cells. The TPMS structures were fabricated using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology with 316L stainless steel and subjected to quasi-static compression tests. Numerical simulations were conducted using finite element methods to verify the experimental results. The findings indicate that hybrid TPMS
Liu, ZheWang, MingJieGuo, PengboLi, YouguangLian, YuehuiZhong, Gaoshuo
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, JongminKim, DonghyunJang, MinhoKim, GeunhoSeongho, YooKim, Kyu-Rae
The development of autonomous driving technology will liberate the space in the car and bring more possibilities of comfortable and diverse sitting postures to passengers, but the collision safety problem cannot be ignored. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes of injury pattern and loading mechanism of occupants under various reclined postures. A highly rotatable rigid seat and an integrated three-point seat belt were used, with a 23g, 50kph input pulse. Firstly, the sled test and simulation using THOR-AV in a reclined posture were conducted, and the sled model was verified effective. Based on the sled model, the latest human body model, THUMS v7, was used for collision simulation. By changing the angle of seatback and seat pan, 5 seat configurations were designed. Through the calculation of the volunteers' pose regression function, the initial position of THUMS body parts in different seat configurations was determined. The responses of human body parts were output
Yang, XiaotingWang, QiangLiu, YuFei, JingWang, PeifengLi, ZhenBai, Zhonghao
Rear impacts make up a significant portion of crashes in the United States. To date, regulations on rear impacts have focused on fuel system integrity and seat performance, while most research has focused on seat performance in relation to occupants’ injuries, with some analyses of crash severity and seat belt effects. The performance of seats and seat belts may vary depending on the size of the occupant. Understanding how occupant characteristics, as well as crash scenarios, affect injury outcomes can show opportunities for further enhancements in rear impact occupant protection. This paper presents analyses using survey weighted logistic regression models to understand the factors affecting serious injury outcomes (i.e., MAIS 3+) in rear impacts, exploring the potential for improving occupant outcomes. Three separate models are evaluated, focusing on 1) overall injury level, 2) head, neck, and cervical-spine injuries, and 3) thorax, abdomen, thoracic- and lumbar-spine injuries for
Greib, JoshuaJurkiw, ReneeKryzaniwskyj, TanjaOwen, SusanVan Rooyen, PaulWhelan, StaceyWilliamson, John
This specification establishes the minimum required performance and validation for the seatbelt pyrotechnic pretensioners integrated into retractors, buckles, and/or anchors. It also includes pyro for switchable load limiters. This specification is intended to focus on the performance of the tensioner function integrated into the aforementioned devices and NOT the entirety of the device integrated into the vehicle. See Figure 1 in 2.2.
USCAR
The present research explores the potential of high-performance thermoplastics, Polymethyl Methacrylate and Polyurethane, to enhance the passive safety of automotive instrument panels. The purpose is to evaluate and compare the passive safety of these two materials through the conduct of the Charpy Impact Test, Tensile Strength Test, and Crush Test —. For this, five samples were prepared in the case of each material via injection moulding, which enabled reliability, and consistency of the findings. As a result, it was found that in the case of the Charpy Impact Test, the average impact resistance varies with PMMA exhibiting a level of 15.08 kJ/m2 as opposed to the value of 12.16 kJ/m2 for PU. The Tensile Strength Test produced the average tensile strength of 50.16 for PMMA and 48.2 for PU, which implied superior structural integrity under tension for the first type of thermoplastic. Finally, the Crush Test showed that PMMA is more resistant to crushes on average than PU with the
Natrayan, L.Kaliappan, SeeniappanMothilal, T.Balaji, N.Maranan, RamyaRavi, D.
Car bumpers are protective structures for the occupants of a vehicle during a collision, absorbing impact energy, such a structure is located at the front and rear of the vehicle. Metals were used to manufacture the first bumpers, and it was subsequently assessed that using a different material would reduce their weight, for example plastic, resulting in increased fuel economy and impact absorption. Also, the use of polymers reinforced by glass fibers offer good mechanical strength. This work evaluates the replacement of conventional materials by an ecologically more viable alternative, natural fibers as plastic reinforcement, reducing costs, without considerable loss in the material mechanical properties. Specimens of reinforced composite material were produced with jute fiber. The fibers, obtained through fabrics, were standardized in length of 5.0 mm and 15.0 mm. The matrix phase applied was the unsaturated and pre-accelerated terephthalic polyester resin manufactured by Royal
Soares, Rafael VilhenaDias, Roberto Yuri Costade Mendonca Maia, Pedro VictorJunior, Waldomiro Gomes PaschoalFujiyama, Roberto Tetsuo
A serious problem of public healthcare around the world is the number of road vehicle accidents, every year almost 1,3 million people die and approximately 20 to 50 million people suffer a non-fatal accident because of a road vehicle accident [1]. As a result of that, in 2021 the World Health Organization stated the “The Second Decade of Action for Road Safety”, which the goal is to prevent at least 50% of deaths and injuries due traffic by 2030. To achieve this goal, the automobile companies have invested in technology and products that can enhance vehicle safety. Despite exist some control systems able to reduce roll, and consequently the roll over, such as active suspension, semi-active suspension, and stability control systems, none of them have as main purpose reduce the number of rollovers. The following study aims to examine the effects of an active anti roll bar, to improve the vehicle dynamics during corners and reduce the risk of a rollover by reducing the roll of the sprung
Gomes, Pedro CarvalhoTeixeira, Evandro Leonardo SilvaMorais, Marcus Vinicius GirãoFortaleza, Eugenio Liborio FeitoraSantos Gioria, Gustavo
This SAE Recommended Practice describes the method for safe deployment of airbag modules in vehicles equipped with electrically actuated airbag systems for the purpose of disposal. It is intended to provide a procedure that does not require significant technical expertise, is easy to operate, and is readily available to be used by automobile dismantlers or vehicle shredders to deploy airbag modules prior to automobile reclamation.
Inflatable Restraints Committee
Embarking on exploring the cutting-edge domain of smart bike innovations, this study focuses primarily on enhancing safety and security measures. Through meticulous development and implementation, it introduces seven pioneering features to curb accidents and thwart theft incidents. These transformative functionalities encompass a spectrum of aspects, including cautionary systems for side stand and helmet usage, advanced alcohol detection mechanisms, and robust anti-theft measures employing ID card and password protocols. Moreover, integrating speed control mechanisms and automated brake activation on encountering speed breakers further elevates the safety quotient of the smart bike. By harnessing a diverse array of sensors such as RF, REED, ultrasonic, and gas sensors, these features collectively pave the way for a paradigm shift in road safety standards. The report meticulously details the intricacies of design, execution, and cost estimation, underscoring the transformative impact of
Mallieswaran, K.Agaramudhalvan, S.Nithya, R.Shuruti, R.Radhika, S.
This SAE Standard describes guarding to help prevent hazardous machine movement caused by activation of the starter motor by bypassing the starter control system. This document is applicable to off-road, self-propelled work machines, as identified in SAE J1116, and agricultural tractors, as defined in ANSI/ASAE S390, which have the potential for hazardous machine movement as a result of bypassing the starter control system and powering of the starter motor.
OPTC1, Personnel Protection (General)
The rapid evolution of new technologies in the automotive sector is driving the demand for advanced simulation solutions, enabling faster software development cycles. Developers often encounter challenges in managing the vast amounts of data generated during testing. For example, a single Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) test vehicle can produce several terabytes of data daily. Efficiently handling and distributing this data across multiple locations can introduce delays in the development process. Moreover, the large volume of test cases required for simulation and validation further exacerbates these delays. On-premises simulation setups, especially those dependent on High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, pose several challenges, including limited computational resources, scalability issues, high capital and maintenance costs, resource management inefficiencies, and compatibility problems between GPU drivers and servers, all of which can impact both performance and costs
Ramapuram, Vinay GoudDhar, JayshriMunaiahgari, Mallikarjuna Reddy
Head injuries from interior impacts during vehicle accidents are a significant cause of fatalities in India. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2023 reveals that approximately 15% of the total 150,000 road fatalities were due to head impacts on vehicle interiors, resulting in about 22,500 deaths. Thus, head impact protection in a car crash is key during the design of vehicle interiors. IS 15223 and ECE-R21 provide specific guidelines for head impact testing of instrument panels and consoles in vehicles to ensure compliance with safety standards and minimize the risk of head injury during collisions. By systematically addressing each aspect of IS 15223 and ECE- R21 in the design, testing, and documentation phases, manufacturers can ensure that console armrests are optimized for safety. This approach not only helps meet regulatory standards but also enhances overall occupant protection in vehicles during collisions. The objective of this paper is to design a console
Malhotra, DeepakVaishnav, SureshSureshkumar Presannakumari, RajasilpiMangal, GautamKeshri, Amit
Research areas in Road furniture have become critical due to the rising incidence of road accidents and fatalities. Enhancing road attributes such as crash barriers, crash cushions, crash poles, and emergency communication systems can significantly reduce these fatalities. Among these, crash barriers promise particular attention as they serve as immediate safety mechanisms. When a vehicle loses control, crash barriers can effectively mitigate the severity of accidents by restraining the vehicle and preventing more severe outcomes. This paper focuses on the performance of a novel steel-wood hybrid crash barrier with perforated post parallel to vehicles direction, designed to enhance road safety in hilly areas. Utilizing finite element analysis (FEA) in LS-DYNA software, renowned for simulating structural deformation under loading, we evaluated the structural response and crashworthiness of the hybrid barrier under various impact scenarios. Our simulations assessed the barrier's
Bendre, SagarDas, AlakenduJaiswal, Manish
Dynamic Vehicle mass is one of the most critical parameters in automotive controls such as battery management, transmission shift scheduling, distance-to-empty predictions and most importantly, various active and passive safety systems. This work aims to find out dynamic Vehicle mass for Electric Vehicles in real time transient driving conditions. The work proposes a real-time approach in finding Dynamic vehicle mass where accumulated Energy based vehicle performance, an improvement to the vehicle dynamics equation, has been employed for consistent and accurate results. Factors affecting vehicle mass such as road grade, dynamic friction coefficient, driving pattern, wheel slip etc. have been considered for model optimization. Here recursive Bayesian state estimator has been used for finding vehicle mass as a constant state variable while time varying forgetting factors are used to nullify the impact of major losses. Algorithm is auto tuned using Machine Learning techniques to first
Pandey, SuchitSarkar, PrasantaSawhney, ChandanKondhare, ManishJoshi, PawanCH, Sri Ram
Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed an adjustable thermal control ball valve (TCBV) assembly which utilizes a unique geometric ball valve design to facilitate precise thermal control within a spacesuit. The technology meters the coolant flow going to the cooling and ventilation garment, worn by an astronaut in the next generation space suit, that expels waste heat during extra vehicular activities (EVAs) or spacewalks.
The introduction of unrestrained torso neck braces as a safety intervention for helmeted motorcycle riders has introduced a set of unsolved challenges. Understanding the injury prevention afforded by these devices depends on a reliable test methodology by which to critically evaluate their efficacy against the most common mechanisms of neck injury. An inverted pendulum test is proposed to evaluate compression flexion (CF), tension flexion (TF), and tension extension (TE) of the neck using a Hybrid III anthropomorphic test device (HIII ATD) neck and a motorcycle-specific ATD (MATD) neck. In addition to investigating methods to quantify the beneficial effects of a neck brace, potential adverse effects of such a device are evaluated by measuring and evaluating relevant neck response measures. To that end, measured data using a current neck brace were analyzed and applied to various injury criteria related to the ATD neck used to compare the injury risk predicted by each parameter. The
de Jongh, Cornelis U.Basson, Anton H.Knox, Erick H.Leatt, Christopher J.
With the capability of predicting detailed injury of occupants, the Human Body Model (HBM) was used to identify potential injuries for occupants in car impact events. However, there are few publications on using HBM in the aviation industry. This study aims to investigate and compare the head, neck, lumbar spine and thoracic responses of the Hybrid III and the THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety) model in the horizontal 26g and vertical 19g sled tests required by the General Aviation Aircraft Airworthiness Regulations. The HIC of THUMS and Hybrid III did not exceed the requirements of airworthiness regulations. Still, THUMS had higher intracranial pressures and intracranial stresses, which could result in brain injury to the occupants. In vertical impact, the highest stress of the neck of THUMS appears at the cervical spine C2 and the upper neck is easily injured; in horizontal impact, the cervical spine C7 has the highest load, and the lower neck is easily injured. Due to the low
Shi, XiaopengDing, XiangheGuo, KaiLiu, TianfuXie, Jiang
Athletes may sustain numerous head impacts during sport, leading to potential neurological consequences. Wearable sensors enable real-world head impact data collection, offering insight into sport-specific brain injury mechanisms. Most instrumented mouthguard studies focus on a single sport, lacking a quantitative comparison of head impact biomechanics across sports. Additionally, direct comparison of prior studies can be challenging due to variabilities in methodology and data processing. Therefore, we gathered head impact data across multiple sports and processed all data using a uniform processing pipeline to enable direct comparisons of impact biomechanics. Our aim was to compare peak kinematics, impulse durations, and head impact directionality across ice hockey, American football, rugby, and soccer. We found that American football had the highest magnitude of head impact kinematics and observed directionality differences in linear and angular kinematics between sports. On the
Masood, Zaryan Z.Luke, David S.Kenny, Rebecca A.Bondi, Daniel R.Clansey, Adam C.Wu, Lyndia C.
Extreme out-of-position pre-crash postures may need high-force pre-pretensioner (PPT) for effective repositioning (Mishra et al., 2023). To avoid applying a high force on the chest, we hypothesized that in case of these extreme postures the PPT may be activated in the absence of a pre-crash motion as a cautionary measure. Therefore, the aims of this study were: (1) to understand the effect of the PPT in repositioning a forward-leaning occupant in static conditions and (2) to characterize occupants’ kinematic variability during repositioning. Sixteen healthy volunteers (8 males, 8 females, 23.8 ± 4.2 years old) were seated with a 40° forward posture on a vehicle seat and restrained with a 3-point seat belt equipped with a PPT. Two PPT seatbelt conditions were examined: low PPT (100 N) and high PPT (300 N). Head and trunk rearward displacements relative to the initial forward-leaning position at 350 ms from PPT onset were collected with a 3D motion-capture system and compared between
Witmer, MaitlandGriffith, MadelineGraci, Valentina
Drop tower testing was conducted using 50th percentile male PMHS at 15G peak acceleration in a rigid seat, with a seat pan-to-seatback angle of 90°. Subjects were instrumented with 6DOF motion blocks at T1, T4, T12, L3, and S1 to capture detailed vertebral body kinematics. Pressure sensors were also placed throughout the lumbar spine to estimate force in the intervertebral discs from S1-L2. PMHS were restrained using a pilot torso harness attached to the seat at the shoulders and lap belt, both pretensioned to 89 N. Reaction forces were measured in the seat using six-axis loads under the seat pan. Final positioning of the occupant was documented using a FARO arm point probe and laser scanner. To recreate the experimental setup, CAD models of the experimental fixture were meshed using a commercial FE modeling software (Hypermesh) and imported into LS-Dyna for incorporation with the THUMS model. The belt routing tool in LS-PrePost v4.9.12 was used to develop the torso harness and
DeWitt, Timothy R.Marcallini, Angelo M.Bolte IV, John H.Kang, Yun-Seok
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
Pelvic orientation in vehicles is crucial for preventing injuries and creating safer vehicles and restraint systems. A better understanding of pelvic orientation could provide more accurate anthropomorphic test device (ATD) models of underrepresented populations such as obese individuals, children, and small females. Sonomicrometry is the use of piezoelectric transducers that transmit ultrasound signals to each other to measure the distance between them. These signals may be aggregated using triangulation. In this experiment, ultrasound crystals were secured to the surface of a porcine surrogate to evaluate pelvic movement. This data was then processed using Sonometrics software to generate a 3D model of four static positions and three dynamic tests. The test was validated using a camera and a 3D measurement arm (CMM) to validate XYZ positions. This article discusses how this method could be helpful for developing more accurate ATD models, preventing fatalities in vehicle crashes.
Mrozek, AllisonSirhan, KaterenaMacDonald, RobertDannaoui, AbdulMazloum, AishaOchocki, Katarzyna‘Dale’ Bass , Cameron R.
Head injuries account for 15% of snowsport-related injuries, and the majority of head impacts occur against ice or snow, low-friction surfaces. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how surface friction affects snowsport helmets’ oblique impact kinematics. Ten helmet models were impacted using an oblique drop tower with a 45-degree anvil and NOCSAE headform, at three locations, two surface friction conditions, and a drop speed of 5.0 m/s. Our findings indicate that friction affects peak linear acceleration, peak rotational acceleration, and peak rotational velocity during helmet impacts, with changes in post-impact rotation and impact response varying by location. Surface friction affects head impact kinematics, underscoring the need for sport-specific lab testing and emphasizing the need for friction-specific and sport-specific testing, particularly for snowsports, where surface conditions like snow and ice can alter kinematics.
Stark, Nicole E.-P.Calis, AndrewWood, MatthewPiwowarski, Summer BlueDingelstedt, KristinBegonia, MarkRowson, Steve
This study compared modern vehicle and booster geometries with relevant child anthropometries. Vehicle geometries (seat length, seat pan height, shoulder belt outlet height, and roof height) were obtained for 275 center and outboard rear seating positions of US vehicles (MY 2009–2022). Measurements of 85 US boosters (pan height and pan length) and anthropometries of 80 US children between 4–14yo (seated height, thigh length, leg length, and seated shoulder height) were also collected. Comparisons were made between vehicles, boosters, and child anthropometries. Average vehicle seat lengths exceeded child thigh lengths (+9.5cm). Only 16.4% of seating positions had seat lengths less than the child thigh length mean+1SD. Even for children at least 145cm, only 18.8% had thigh lengths greater than the average vehicle seat length. Child thigh lengths were more comparable with average booster seat pan lengths for all multi-mode and high-back designs (-2.0cm) and low-back boosters (+3.1cm). The
Baker, Gretchen H.Connell, Rosalie R.Rhodes, Carrie A.Mansfield, Julie A.
Road safety remains a critical concern globally, with millions of lives lost annually due to road accidents. In India alone, the year 2021 witnessed over 4,12,432 road accidents resulting in 1,53,972 fatalities and 3,84,448 injuries. The age group most affected by these accidents is 18-45 years, constituting approximately 67% of total deaths. Factors such as speeding, distracted driving, and neglect to use safety gear increases the severity of these incidents. This paper presents a novel approach to address these challenges by introducing a driver safety system aimed at promoting good driving etiquette and mitigating distractions and fatigue. Leveraging Raspberry Pi and computer vision techniques, the system monitors driver behavior in real-time, including head position, eye blinks, mouth opening and closing, hand position, and internal audio levels to detect signs of distraction and drowsiness. The system operates in both passive and active modes, providing alerts and alarms to the
Ganesh, KattaPrasad, Gvl
The primary purpose of the active safety feature is to reduce the danger of a collision between the car and an obstruction. To improve occupant safety, active safety systems must be included on all new vehicles; nonetheless, not all incidents are preventable. The frequency of incidents on the road has recently increased in tandem with the number of cars, making it critical to investigate the crashworthiness of a vehicle because human life is at the top of the priority list. This study examines an occupant's responses prior to a crash event, as well as studies into how occupant posture influences injury data. Most of the existing research focuses on the pre-crash event or the occupant's optimal seated position. However, it is critical to understand an occupant's reflex or behavior during the pre-crash event, when the occupant is typically not in an appropriate seating posture due to the panic reflex. As a result, an occupant's reflex in a panic situation will change their seating
Shankara Murthy, SantoshSrinivasa, PraveenCK, UmeshPatil, ShubhamJois, Rahul
This paper studies design parameters, selection of materials and structural analysis for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) BAJA roll cage at the event site in any possible situation. SolidWorks 2022 was used for creating the prototype of the roll cage and then both static structural as well as dynamic crash analysis for the roll cage was done using Altair HyperWorks 2023 for various collisions like front, rear, side, rollover, torsional, front bump, rear bump, front roll over, side roll over and rear roll over. In addition to their corresponding deformation, Von Mises stresses were observed and a safety factor was calculated for these load cases which was found to be in the range of 1.5 to 3. Without reducing the roll cage’s strength, the roll cage designed for a four-wheel drive configuration is developed with driver comfort and safety in mind. Finding the optimal safety factor is the core objective of the analysis, as it ensures in any situation, the ATV’s roll cage will stay secure.
L, Ravi KumarSanjay P, ChiranjeevT J, Pravin ChanderMoses J, JebishD, ParthesunG, Sureshmani
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.
More than 80 percent of stroke survivors experience walking difficulty, significantly impacting their daily lives, independence, and overall quality of life. Now, new research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst pushes forward the bounds of stroke recovery with a unique robotic hip exoskeleton, designed as a training tool to improve walking function. This invites the possibility of new therapies that are more accessible and easier to translate from practice to daily life compared to current rehabilitation methods.
Effective thermal management is crucial for vehicles, impacting both passenger comfort and safety, as well as overall energy efficiency. Electric vehicles (EVs) are particularly sensitive to thermal considerations, as customers often experience range anxiety. Improving efficiency not only benefits customers by extending vehicle range and reducing operational costs but also provides manufacturers with a competitive edge and potential revenue growth. Additionally, efficient thermal management contributes to minimizing the environmental impact of the vehicle throughout its lifespan. Digital twins have gained prominence across various industries due to their ability to accelerate development while minimizing testing costs. Some applications have transitioned to comprehensive three-dimensional models, while others employ model reduction techniques or hybrid approaches that combine different modeling methods. The discovery of unknown working mechanisms, more efficient and effective control
Palacio Torralba, JavierKapoor, SangeetJaybhay, SambhajiLocks, OlafKulkarni, Shridhar DilipraoShah, Geet
Energy efficiency in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV) is a strategic advantage of automotive companies. It provides a better user experience that emanates amongst others from the reduction in operation expenses, particularly critical for fleets, and the increase in range. This is especially important in EVs where customers may experience range anxiety. The energetical impact of using the air conditioning system in vehicles is not negligible with power consumptions in the range of kilowatts, even with a stopped vehicle. This becomes particularly important in areas with high temperature and humidity levels where the usage of the air conditioning systems becomes safety factor. In such areas, drivers are effectively forced to use the air conditioning system continuously. Hence, the air conditioning system becomes an ideal choice to deploy control strategies for optimized energy usage. In this paper, we propose and implement a control strategy that allows a
Jaybhay, SambhajiKapoor, SangeetKulkarni, Shridhar DilipraoPalacio Torralba, JavierLocks, Olaf
A new method leverages AI and computer simulations to train robotic exoskeletons that can help users save energy while walking, running, and climbing stairs. The novel method rapidly develops exoskeleton controllers to assist locomotion without relying on lengthy human-involved experiments.
The advent of neck braces for the helmeted motorcycle rider has introduced a pertinent research question: To what extent do they reduce measures related to the major mechanism of neck injury in unrestrained torso accidents, i.e., compression flexion (CF)? This question requires a suitable method of testing and evaluating the measures for a load case resulting in the required mechanism. This study proposes a weighted swinging anvil striking the helmeted head of a supine HIII ATD by means of a near vertex impact with a low degree of anterior head impact eccentricity to induce CF of the neck. The applied impact was chosen for the baseline (no neck brace) so that the upper and lower neck axial forces approached injury assessment reference values (IARV). The head impact point evaluated represents those typically associated with high-energy burst fractures occurring within the first 20 ms, with possible secondary disruption of posterior ligaments. The proposed test can be used to evaluate
de Jongh, Cornelis U.Basson, Anton H.Knox, Erick H.Leatt, Christopher J.
This SAE Standard is intended to provide personnel protection guidelines for skid steer loaders. This document is intended as a guide towards standard practice, but may be subject to frequent change to keep pace with experience and technical advances. This should be kept in mind when considering its use. This document provides performance criteria for newly manufactured loaders and it is not intended for in-service machines.
OPTC1, Personnel Protection (General)
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