Browse Topic: Safety belts

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Securing Child Restraint Systems in Motor VehiclesJ1819_202604 (Current)4/13/2026
The scope of this SAE Recommended Practice is to promote compatibility between child restraint systems and vehicle seats and seat belts. Design guidelines are provided to vehicle manufacturers for certain characteristics of seats and seat belts and to child restraint system (CRS) manufacturers for corresponding CRS features so that each can be made more compatible with the other. The CRS accommodation fixture (see Figure 1) is used to represent a CRS to the designers of both the vehicle interior and the CRS for evaluation of each product for compatibility with the other. The features of the accommodation fixture are described as each is used.
Children's Restraint Systems Committee
Evaluating the Effects of Improper Positioning and Unbuckling of a Restraint System on a 10-Year-Old Child ATD in a Far Side Side-Impact Environment2026-01-05624/7/2026
Five sled tests were performed with a Hybrid III (H-III) 10-year-old child sized Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) positioned in the 2nd row left seat of a three row 2006 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). A HYGE Sled buck was positioned to represent/replicate a side impact collision to the passenger (right) side of the SUV, with a Principal Direction of Force (PDOF) of 60 degrees, resulting in a far side side-impact for the ATD. Of the 5 tests performed, three of the five tests were performed with a delta-V of 17 mph, and two of the tests at a delta-V of 24 mph. Of the 17 mph tests, one test was performed with a properly restrained ATD, and two tests performed with improper restraint positioning. Both of the 24 mph tests were performed with improper restraint positioning, effectively identical to the two 17 mph delta-V tests. The two improper restraint use tests (at both 17 and 24 mph delta-V) included two different improper restraint scenarios. The first scenario of improper restraint
Luepke, Peter, Hewett, Natalie, Betts, Kevin, Van Arsdell, William, Weber, Paul, Stankewich, Charles, Miller, Gregory, Watson, Richard, Sochor, Mark
Potential Regulatory Approaches for Occupant Safety in Automated Vehicles with Unique Seating Configurations – Part 2: Interior Safety Sensing and Messaging Proposals2026-01-05764/7/2026
This paper contains Part 2 of a two-part paper series proposing potential regulatory approaches for occupant safety in Automated / Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) with unique seating configurations (stagecoach and campfire seating). Part 2 focuses on interior safety sensing, associated messaging, and ride control approaches both prior to and during a ride. Assessments are also proposed after significant vehicle braking and crash events. The proposed conditions are to be assessed in a static vehicle environment with humans segmented by occupant size and an infant dummy. On the vehicle seat and on the vehicle floor occupant detection conditions are proposed along with restraint usage detection conditions for vehicle seat belt usage, Child Restraint Seat (CRS) usage, CRS seat belt usage, and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system usage. These conditions may be detected by sensors / computer algorithms and human monitoring and thus are technology agnostic. The topics of animal
Thomas, Scott
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
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
Leveraging Machine Learning for Occupant Body Size Estimation via B-Pillar Seatbelt Systems2026-01-05594/7/2026
Occupant body size in vehicles varies significantly, encompassing differences in height, mass, and overall body composition. Adaptive restraint systems, featuring adjustable parameters such as belt load limiters, steering column load limiters and stroke, seat pan stiffness, and airbag pressure, can offer more equitable protection tailored to individual body sizes. In this study, a test rig modeled after the Volvo XC90 (2016) was used to collect data from 46 participants who were dressed in typical summer clothing and seated upright, without slouching or leaning sideways. Stepwise adjustments of the seat pan and seatback were performed. The collected measurements include seat pan movements (front-back and up-down), seatback recline, and key seatbelt-related parameters, such as belt payout length, D-ring angle, lap belt length, and buckle tension. The collected data was then used to train machine learning models to predict individual occupant characteristics: standing height, mass, and
Wang, Da, Ahmed, Jawwad, Rowe, Mike, Brase, Dan
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
Crashworthiness of WC19 Wheelchairs in Horizontal Dynamic Aircraft Seating Tests09-14-02-00011/23/2026
At present, commercial air travel rules do not allow people to sit in their own wheelchairs during flight. However, airline seating often does not meet medical needs. In response to current requests to allow this seating option, we researched the crashworthiness and safety of wheelchairs for potential use in aircraft. For motor vehicle travel, many wheelchairs meet voluntary standards for crashworthiness and safety per RESNA WC19. This project assesses whether WC19-compliant wheelchairs can meet FAA aircraft seating standards when secured using 4-point tiedowns. For the FAA horizontal impact testing, computer modeling indicated that a trapezoidal sled pulse was sufficient to represent the more typical triangular pulse, and that due to the flexibility of the tiedown webbing, the effect of the simulated pitch/roll element was minimal. During the initial two horizontal impact tests, fracture of the left front wheelchair caster was observed. The remaining five wheelchairs were tested with
Klinich, Kathleen D., Manary, Miriam A., Boyle, Kyle J., Vallier, Tyler, Orton, Nichole R.
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
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
Addressing Safety Belt Discomfort among Female Driving Population through Data Collection and Simulation2026-26-00161/16/2026
The number of female drivers in India is increasing alongside the rapid growth of the Indian automotive industry. A driving comfort survey conducted among female drivers revealed that many of them experienced discomfort when wearing safety belts—while driving and as front-seat passengers. This discomfort is primarily due to a phenomenon referred to as “neck cutting.” The root cause of neck cutting is likely related to vehicle design, which is traditionally based on Anthropometric Test Devices (ATD’s) representing the 5th, 50th & 95th percentile (%tile) of the global population. However, a literature review indicated that the anthropometric dimensions of the Indian populations are generally smaller than those of the global for the respective candidate. To validate the neck-cutting issue, various female candidates were asked to sit in the Driver’s seat for physical measurements trials. Accordingly, methodology was developed to quantify neck cutting parameters objectively. A correlation
Kulkarni, Nachiket A, Chitodkar, Vivek V, Eknath Chopade, Santosh, Mahajan, Rahul, Yamgar, Babasaheb S
Quantifying Naturalistic Changes in Occupant Postures in Belt-Positioning Booster Seats Utilizing Pressure Mats2025-22-000812/2/2025
Belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs) help promote proper seat belt fit for children in vehicles. The effectiveness of BPBs depends on occupant posture, which can be influenced by BPB design features. This study aimed to quantitatively describe how children's postures naturally change over time in BPBs, using pressure mats. Thirty children aged 5 to 12 participated in two 30-minute trials using randomly assigned seating configurations. Five configurations were studied by installing two backless BPBs in vehicle captain’s chairs, varying booster profile (high, low, or no BPB) and armrest presence (with or without BPB/vehicle seat armrests). TekScan 5250 pressure mats were placed on the seating surfaces. Children began in an ideal reference posture, and center of force (COF) data were collected continuously. Additional observations on posture, behavior, and comfort were periodically collected. Mixed models, including effects of seating configuration, time, and volunteer characteristics
Connell, Rosalie, Baker, Gretchen H., Mansfield, Julie A.
Monitoring the Injection Molding Process to Improve Quality and Lower CostsTBMG-5389710/1/2025
When it comes to plastics applications, cars are rarely the first products that come to mind. However, with modern vehicles containing 1,000 to 1,500 plastic parts — including dashboards, control elements, clips, trim parts, brackets, door panels, bumpers, and radiator grilles — the material is more important for mobility than we might assume. Some of these plastic parts are relevant for the drivers’ safety: for instance, airbag covers must open correctly in an accident and seat belt guides and retractors could cause severe injuries if they break or deform under load. Their quality is vital. At the same time however, cost pressure and new regulations — for instance regarding an increased use of recycled materials that is under way in the European Union — pose new challenges, especially in plastic injection molding. Digital solutions for measurement technology help control and stabilize the complex process and may even lead to increased product quality despite tougher conditions.
Design and Analysis of Passive Controlled Plastic Hinge in Two-Post Rollover Protective Structure for Off-Highway Motor Grader Equipment02-19-01-00017/23/2025
Rollover protective structures (ROPS) that absorb energy during vehicle rollovers play a crucial role in providing integrated passive safety for operators restrained by seat belts. These protective structures, integrated into the vehicle frame, are designed to absorb high-impact energy and deform in a controlled manner without intruding into the occupant’s safe zone. This research focuses on the detailed analytical design procedure and performance evaluation criteria of the two-post open ROPS used on motor graders against lateral loads. An experimental test on a standard tubular square hollow section (SHS) column subjected to lateral load has demonstrated a significant correlation between the post-yield behavior of plastic hinge development and energy absorption, compared with results from various formulations adopted in finite element analysis (FEA). To reduce design iteration time and the cost of physical destructive testing, the complete equipment experimental setup is virtually
J., Avinash
Structural Strength Evaluation of the Lightweight Frame of Bus Passenger Seat with High-Tensile Material and Analysis of the Importance of Independent Variables by Regression02-18-04-00225/10/2025
This study aims to develop a lightweight bus passenger seat frame by conducting structural nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) on various thickness combinations of seat frame components to identify the optimal configuration. The thicknesses of critical structural members that primarily bear the load when force is applied to the seat frame were selected as independent variables, while stress on each component and compliance with ECE R14 seatbelt anchorage displacement regulations were set as dependent variables. A regression analysis was performed to calculate the importance of each component and analyze the influence of each design variable on the dependent variables. Strain gauges were attached to critical areas of the actual seat frame to conduct a seatbelt anchorage test, and simulations under identical conditions were performed using the nonlinear FEA software (LS-DYNA) to validate the reliability of the analysis results. The optimized seat frame exhibited a maximum stress of
Ko, Yeong Gook, Cho, Kyu Chun, Lee, Ji Sun, Kang, Ki Weon
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
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
Analysis of Occupants' Responses in Frontal Sled Tests under a Reclined Rigid Seat Environment2025-01-87344/1/2025
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, Qiang, Liu, Yu, Fei, Jing, Yang, Xiaoting, Wang, Peifeng, Bai, Zhonghao
Machine Learning-Enabled Optimization of Vehicle Restraint Systems – Demonstration in a Real-World Crash Scenario2025-01-87224/1/2025
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, Mitesh, Lin, Chin-Hsu, Desai, Megha, Rao, Shishir
Comprehensive Injury Assessment of Reclined Occupants across Varied Seat Configurations with the THUMS Human Body Model2025-01-87394/1/2025
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, Xiaoting, Wang, Qiang, Liu, Yu, Fei, Jing, Wang, Peifeng, Li, Zhen, Bai, Zhonghao
Assessment of Injuries in Rear Impacts2025-01-87274/1/2025
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, Joshua, Jurkiw, Renee, Kryzaniwskyj, Tanja, Owen, Susan, Van Rooyen, Paul, Whelan, Stacey, Williamson, John
PYROTECHNIC PRETENSIONER REQUIREMENTS AND VALIDATIONUSCAR48 (Current)2/25/2025
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
Finite Element Comparison of Human and Hybrid III Responses in the Airworthiness Certification of Normal Aircraft2024-01-701811/15/2024
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, Xiaopeng, Ding, Xianghe, Guo, Kai, Liu, Tianfu, Xie, Jiang
Determination of Postmortem Human Subject Response to Vertical Drop Tower Testing and Initial Application for Total Human Model for Safety Finite Element Model Validation09-12-02-001511/12/2024
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
Repositioning Forward-Leaning Occupants with a Pre-Pretensioner Belt in Static Conditions09-12-02-001911/12/2024
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, Maitland, Griffith, Madeline, Graci, Valentina
Evaluation of Child Anthropometries in Relation to Modern Vehicle Seat and Booster Dimensions2024-22-000410/30/2024
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.
Occupant Positioning Study during Pre-Crash and Integrated Safety Restraint System2024-28-000210/17/2024
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, Santosh, Srinivasa, Praveen, CK, Umesh, Patil, Shubham, Jois, Rahul
ZF's latest safety advances open up, tighten up and DOUBLE DOWN24AUTP08_028/1/2024
ZF rethinks safety with new airbags, belt tensioner. ZF knows that the steering wheel remains one of the most relevant components in an automotive interior, because this is where drivers have direct contact to the vehicle. As steering wheels become adorned with more functions than some drivers know what to do with, ZF put Marc Schledorn in charge of the teams rethinking how the driver airbag could operate in a world with ever-busier steering wheels. The solution is a new type of steering wheel airbag that ZF Lifetec (ZF's renamed Passive Safety Systems division) announced in June. Instead of moving through a thermoplastic airbag cover mechanically fixed in the center of the wheel, Schledorn told SAE Media, the new design positions the airbag on the top side of the steering wheel and then expands through the upper rim of the wheel when needed.
Blanco, Sebastian
Research on Occupant Injury Prediction Method of Vehicle Emergency Call System Based on Machine Learning2024-01-20104/9/2024
The on-board emergency call system with accurate occupant injury prediction can help rescuers deliver more targeted traffic accident rescue and save more lives. We use machine learning methods to establish, train, and validate a number of classification models that can predict occupant injuries (by determining whether the MAIS (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale) level is greater than 2) based on crash data, and ranked the correlation of some factors affecting vehicle occupant injury levels in accidents. The optimal model was selected by the model prediction accuracy, and the Grid Search method was used to optimize the hyper-parameters for the model. The model is based on 2799 two-vehicle collision accident data from NHTSA CISS (The Crash Investigation Sampling System of NHTSA) traffic accident database.The results show that the model achieves high-precision prediction of occupant injury MAIS level (recall rate 0.8718, AUC(Area under Curve) 0.8579) without excluding vehicle model, and
Huida, Zhang, Liu, Yu, Rui, Yang, Wu, Xiaofan, Fan, Tiqiang, Wan, Xinming
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
Study of Indian Road Traffic Accident Characteristics Using Clustering Analysis2024-01-27544/9/2024
In 2021, 412,432 road accidents were reported in India, resulting in 153,972 deaths and 384,448 injuries. India has the highest number of road fatalities, accounting for 11% of the global road fatalities. Therefore, it is important to explore the underlying causes of accidents on Indian roads. The objective of this study is to identify the factors inherent in accidents in India using clustering analysis based on self-organizing maps (SOM). It also attempts to recommend some countermeasures based on the identified factors. The study used Indian accident data collected by members of ICAT-ADAC (International Centre for Automotive Technology - Accident Data Analysis Centre) under the ICAT-RNTBCI joint project approved by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India. 210 cases were collected from the National Highway between Jaipur and Gurgaon and 239 cases from urban and semi-urban roads around Chennai were used for the analysis. Based on this study, the following results were
Vimalathithan, Kulothungan, Rao K M, Pranesh, Vallabhaneni, Pratapnaidu, Selvarathinam, Vivekraj, Manoharan, Jeyabharath, Pal, Chinmoy, Padhy, Sitikantha, Joshi, Madhusudan
Observational Study of Passenger Seat Belt Usage Rates on Shuttle Buses2024-01-27534/9/2024
In 1983, a seat belt use rate survey was published in which 9% shoulder belt use was observed for front-outboard passengers. Nearly forty years later the national estimate of seat belt use has achieved a record high of 91.6% belt use by adult front-seat passengers in 2022. In contrast, there have been very few studies conducted in order to determine seat belt use within large buses and motorcoaches. In 2013, the NHTSA published a final rule amending FMVSS 208 to require seat belts for each seating position in all new over-the-road buses. Beginning in 2016, newly manufactured buses were required to be equipped with lap and shoulder belts for each driver and passenger seat. Recent studies have reported that seat belt use on motorcoaches with relatively long routes was only 2.6%. Similarly, seat belt use in airport shuttle buses was reported to be only 1%. The present observational study was conducted to determine an updated seat belt usage rate of passengers on airport shuttle buses. The
Gregg, Richard H.
Analysis of Fluid Evidence on Various Vehicle Components2024-01-24674/9/2024
Determining occupant kinematics in a vehicle crash is essential when understanding injury mechanisms and assessing restraint performance. Identifying contact marks is key to the process. This study was conducted to assess the ability to photodocument the various fluids on different vehicle interior component types and colors with and without the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights. Biological (blood, saliva, sweat and skin), consumable and chemical fluids were applied to vehicle interior components, such as seatbelt webbing, seat and airbag fabrics, roof liner and leather steering wheel. The samples were photodocumented with natural light and UV light (365 nm) exposure immediately after surface application and again 14 days later. The review of the photos indicated that fabric type and color were important factors. The fluids deposits were better visualized on non-porous than porous materials. For example, blood was better documented on curtain airbags than side or driver airbags. Blood and
Boysen, Kevin, Parenteau, Chantal, Toomey, Daniel, Gregg, Richard H.
Evaluation of the Full-Frontal Crash Regulation for the M1 Category of Vehicles from an Indian Perspective2024-01-27504/9/2024
Background: The Indian automobile industry, including the auto component industry, is a significant part of the country’s economy and has experienced growth over the years. India is now the world’s 3rd largest passenger car market and the world’s second-largest two-wheeler market. Along with the boon, the bane of road accident fatalities is also a reality that needs urgent attention, as per a study titled ‘Estimation of Socio-Economic Loss due to Road Traffic Accidents in India’, the socio-economic loss due to road accidents is estimated to be around 0.55% to 1.35% of India’s GDP [27] Ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) accident data shows that the total number of fatalities on the road are the highest (in number terms) in the world. Though passenger car occupant fatalities have decreased over the years, the fatalities of vulnerable road users are showing an increasing trend. India has committed to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030. In this context, the automotive
Mehta, Pooja, Prasad, Avinash, Srivastava, Aakash, Arora, Pankaj, Howlader, Ashim
Performance of Five-Point Seat Belt on Occupant Safety in Vehicle on Frontal Crash Test2023-01-51692/23/2024
In day-to-day life, accidents do occur frequently all around the globe. It is difficult to prevent these accidents as they occur due to different reasons, which cannot be easily controlled. However, the fatal injuries occurring to passengers can be reduced by installing efficient safety systems in vehicles, which will help in saving the lives of mankind. Many safety systems are being installed in vehicles such as seat belt restraints, airbags, etc. Generally, three-point seat belts are installed in passenger vehicles for safety purposes. This type of seat belt doesn't arrest the entire motion of the occupant's body during vehicle crashes, which can lead to fatal injuries and sometimes even death during vehicle crashes. To buckle passengers with seats, we can use five-point seat belts which will help in mitigating the injuries as compared to three-point seat belts. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of five-point seat belts on occupant safety during vehicle crashes on flat rigid
Vinodh, T., Dineshkumar, C., Jeyakumar, P.D., Muthiya, Solomon Jenoris, Vinayagam, Nadana Kumar, Christu Paul, R., Dhanraj, Joshuva Arockia
Safer Buses for Passengers and Pedestrians: Crashes and Injury Analyses from Indian and German In-Depth Data2024-26-00041/16/2024
Bus transport is an important element in a sustainable transport strategy. The objective of this study is to understand crashes and injuries involving buses, suggest potential passive-safety interventions, estimate their effectiveness, and compare their effectiveness between Germany and India. Descriptive analysis of crash data from the German In-depth Accident Study (GIDAS) and the Road Accident Sampling System India (RASSI) database was performed in two parts: First, bus passengers and their injuries were analyzed and second, pedestrian injuries in bus-to-pedestrian crashes were analyzed. Lastly, interventions were suggested, and their effectiveness was estimated. Analysis of bus passengers showed that most moderate-to-critical injuries in the GIDAS data were to the head caused by interior bus components. In the RASSI data, head injuries were also frequent, often due to bus interior contact, but also due to ejection and impact to the ground or bus exterior. As many as 31% of all
Ranmal, Aarti, Jeppsson, Hanna, Strandroth, Johan, Lubbe, Nils
Integration of Seat-Belt Web-Guide Functionality in Trim Part2024-26-00181/16/2024
Restraint systems in automotives are inevitable for the safety of passengers. Seat belts are one such restraint system in automotives that prevent drivers and passengers from being injured during a crash by restraining them back. Seatbelt on automotives has interface with Body-in-white (henceforth called as BIW) and Trim parts in-order to serve its purpose at vehicle level. One such interface part of seat belt is the web guide, which assists and ensures the nylon web’s smooth motion at different seat track positions. Web-guides on automotives ensure the flawless motion of seat belt web at pillar trim areas. In this paper, we are discussing alternate ways of assisting the seat belt web without the web-guide as a separate part. In-order to assist and ensure the motion of nylon web in its trajectory, we have extended the flange of the pillar trim involved. The paper throws light on the advantages of using an extended trim flange as web-guide for seat belt web instead of a separate web
D, Gowtham, Bornare, Harshad, Gangapuram, Suresh, Deoli, Manish, Ritesh, Kakade, Sai, Konduru, Kakani, Phani Kumar
Application of Taguchi Approach on Wire Electrical Discharge Machining of SS304 for Automotive Applications2023-28-015111/10/2023
SS304 is a type of stainless steel that is well-known for its high ductility and resistance to corrosion; as a result, it is typically utilized in a variety of applications, such as the exhaust systems of automobiles and the springs that are used in seatbelts. Because of its qualities, it will eventually be employed in a variety of body parts, including fuel tanks and chassis, among other things. Due to its properties, SS304 is known to be incredibly difficult to machine using conventional methods. Through a wire electrical discharge machining process, it is easier to cut complex materials with high surface finishes. In this study, a study was conducted on the WEDM process parameters of SS304 to optimize its machining process. The study was carried out using the DoE approach, which involved planning the various experiments. The parameters of the process, such as the pulse on time, peak current, and off time, were analyzed to determine their performance. The various performance measures
Natarajan, Manikandan, Pasupuleti, Thejasree, Katta, Lakshmi Narasimhamu, Somsole, Lakshmi Narayana, D, Palanisamy, Kiruthika, Jothi
Restraint System Optimizations Using Diverse Human Body Models in Frontal Crashes09-11-02-00189/20/2023
Objective: This study aimed to optimize restraint systems and improve safety equity by using parametric human body models (HBMs) and vehicle models accounting for variations in occupant size and shape as well as vehicle type. Methodology: A diverse set of finite element (FE) HBMs were developed by morphing the GHBMC midsize male simplified model into statistically predicted skeleton and body shape geometries with varied age, stature, and body mass index (BMI). A parametric vehicle model was equipped with driver, front passenger, knee, and curtain airbags along with seat belts with pretensioner(s) and load limiter and has been validated against US-NCAP results from four vehicles (Corolla, Accord, RAV4, F150). Ten student groups were formed for this study, and each group picked a vehicle model, occupant side (driver vs. passenger), and an occupant model among the 60 HBMs. About 200 frontal crash simulations were performed with 10 combinations of vehicles (n = 4) and occupants (m = 8
Yang, Zhenhao, Desai, Amoghsidd, Boyle, Kyle, Rupp, Jonathan, Reed, Matthew, Hu, Jingwen
The Impact of Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment on Forward-Leaning Occupants09-11-02-00199/20/2023
Pyrotechnic seat belt pretensioners typically remove 8–15 cm of belt slack and help couple an occupant to the seat. Our study investigated pretensioner deployment on forward-leaning, live volunteers. The forward-leaning position was chosen because research indicates that passengers frequently depart from a standard sitting position. Characteristics of the 3D kinematics of forward-leaning volunteers following pretensioner deployment determines if body size is correlated with subject response. Nine adult subjects (three female), ages 18–43 years old, across a wide range of body sizes (50–120 kg) were tested. The age was limited to young, active adults as pyrotechnic pretensioners can deliver a notable force to the trunk. Subjects assumed a forward-leaning position, with 26 cm between C7 and the headrest, in a laboratory setting that replicated the passenger seat of a vehicle. At an unexpected time, the pretensioner was deployed. 3D kinematics were measured through a nine-camera motion
Hellenbrand, Ciboney, Brown, J. Fletcher, Goodworth, Adam
SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Buckle Up! We're Talking Future Trends134037/17/2023
From AI and ChatGPT to geopolitics and global supply chains, a multitude of trends are converging and paving the way for a historic transformation that will reverberate across industries and sectors. Are you ready? For a rousing conversation that is as wide-ranging as it is thought-provoking, we sat down with Katrin Zimmermann, CEO and Managing Director of TLGG USA, to discuss the trends impacting mobility, technology, globalization, and much more. Fasten your seatbelts for an honest discussion that is certain to push boundaries and open minds.
Hineman, Marcie
Investigation of Potential Injury Patterns and Occupant Kinematics in Frontal Impact with PMHS in Reclined Postures2022-22-00016/27/2023
The reality of the autonomous vehicle in a near future is growing and is expected to induce significant change in the occupant posture with respect to a standard driving posture. The delegated driving would allow sleeping and/or resting in a seat with a reclined posture. However, the data in the literature are rare on the body kinematics, human tolerance, and injury types in such reclined postures. The current study aims at increasing the knowledge in the domain and providing useful data to assess the relevance of the standard injury assessment tools such as anthropomorphic test devices or finite element human body models. For that purpose, a test series of three male Post-Mortem Human Subjects (PMHS) were performed in frontal impact at a 13.4 m/s delta V. The backseat inclination was 58 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. The semi-rigid seat developed by Uriot et al. (2015) was used with a stiffer seat ramp. The restraint was composed of a lap belt equipped with two 3.5 kN load
Baudrit, Pascal, Uriot, Jérôme, Richard, Olivier, Debray, Matthieu
SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Saving Lives With Driver Monitoring Systems133904/24/2023
As the automotive industry moves toward SAE Level 2 and Level 3 autonomy, monitoring driver distraction and encouraging safer driving behaviors is crucial. Driver monitoring systems (DMS) can be lifesaving -- and they are increasingly being required by law in many countries around the world. Cipia is leading this charge with DMS solutions that employ advanced computer vision and AI to monitor the driver's state in real time. Driver Sense detects signs of drowsiness, distraction, seatbelt, holding a phone while driving and more, enabling carmakers to provide lifesaving alerts to the driver. To learn more about this life-saving technology, we sat down with Tal Krzypow, Vice President of Product, to discuss Cipia's advanced computer vision and AI capabilities, in-cabin monitoring and video telematics, and the overall state of DMS technology in markets around the world.
Hineman, Marcie
Lightweight Swivel Seat Frame Concepts Using Advanced Steel Grades2023-01-50214/21/2023
The seat frame to be applied to future autonomous vehicles is expected to be rotatable considering various seating configurations. For the rotatable or swivel seat frame, it might be more difficult to secure passenger-related safety performances including seat belt anchorage (SBA) strength than a conventional seat frame because the conventional seat frame has two seat belt anchoring points on the body center pillar whereas those points of the swivel seat frame should be all located within the rotating structures in the seat frame. Since the swivel seat frame adds a structure for rotation, the mass of the swivel seat frame significantly increases compared to the nonrotatable seat frame, which may become an obstacle to reducing the mass of the vehicle. Currently, there are not many cases of mass production of rotating vehicle seats, and there are hardly any reports of mass reduction through advanced steel materials or corresponding numerical safety performance. In this study, the mass of
Kim, Jaehyun
Comparison of Child Restraint System (CRS) Installation Methods and Misuse During Far-Side Impact Sled Testing2023-01-08174/11/2023
Child occupants have not been studied in far-side impacts as thoroughly as frontal or near side crash modes. The objective is to determine whether the installation method of child restraint systems (CRS) affects far-side crash performance. Twenty far-side impact sled tests were conducted with rear-facing (RF) CRS, forward-facing (FF) CRS, high-back boosters, and belt only. Each was installed on second row captain’s chairs from a recent model year minivan. Common CRS installation errors were tested, including using the seat belt in Emergency Locking Mode (ELR) instead of Automatic Locking Mode (ALR), not attaching the top tether, and using both the lower anchors (LA) and seat belt together. Correct installations were also tested as a baseline comparison. Q3s and Hybrid III 6-year-old (6yo) anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) were used. Lateral displacements of the CRS and head were examined as well as injury metrics in the head, spine, and torso. For RF CRS, the ELR belt installation
Mansfield, Julie
Evaluation of Occupant Kinematics and Kinetics during Moderate Severity Simulated Frontal Impacts with and without Frontal Airbag Deployment2023-01-05594/11/2023
Airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment characteristics depend on multiple factors, such as the magnitude, direction, and rate of vehicle deceleration as detected by vehicle crash sensors and evaluated by vehicle-specific algorithms. Frontal airbag and pretensioner deployments are likely to be commanded during frontal crash events with high initial vehicle deceleration typically associated with high vehicle change in velocity (delta-V). However, within a range of moderate changes in vehicle speeds, referred to as the “gray zone,” a vehicle-specific algorithm may or may not command deployment depending on crash pulse parameters and occupant sensing, among other items. Publicly available testing in the moderate-speed range is lacking and would be useful to evaluate the effects of airbag and pretensioner deployment on occupant kinematics and loading. In this study, sled tests were performed using a standard passenger vehicle buck simulating frontal deceleration impact events in a
Sharpe, Sarah S., Grijalva, Sandra, Allin, Leigh, Courtney, Amy, Toney-Bolger, Megan, Pokutta-Paskaleva, Anastassia, Crosby, Charles L., Carhart, Michael
Event Data RecorderJ1698_202303 (Current)3/1/2023
This SAE Recommended Practice describes common definitions and operational elements of Event Data Recorders. The SAE J1698 series of documents consists of the following: SAE J1698-1 - Event Data Recorder - Output Data Definition: Provides common data output formats and definitions for a variety of data elements that may be useful for analyzing vehicle crash and crash-like events that meet specified trigger criteria. SAE J1698-2 - Event Data Recorder - Retrieval Tool Protocol: Utilizes existing industry standards to identify a common physical interface and define the protocols necessary to retrieve records stored by light duty vehicle Event Data Recorders (EDRs). SAE J1698-3 - Event Data Recorder - Compliance Assessment: Defines procedures that may be used to validate that relevant EDR output records conform with the reporting requirements specified in Part 563, Table 1 during the course of FMVSS-208, FMVSS-214, and other applicable vehicle level crash testing.
Event Data Recorder Committee
Driver Hand Control ReachJ287_202211 (Current)11/18/2022
This recommended practice describes boundaries of hand control locations that can be reached by a percentage of different US driver populations in passenger cars, multi-purpose passenger vehicles, and light trucks (Class A vehicles). This practice is not applicable to heavy trucks (Class B vehicles).
Human Accom and Design Devices Stds Comm
TOC99-04-05-0TOC10/21/2022
Tobolski, Sue
Seat Belt Comfort, Fit, and Convenience - Truck and BusJ1834_202210 (Current)10/7/2022
This SAE Recommended Practice provides design, test, and performance guidelines on the comfort, fit, and convenience for active restraint systems for heavy trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicle applications over 10000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The information pertains to the forward facing seating positions.
Truck Crashworthiness Committee
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