Browse Topic: Anthropomorphic test devices

Items (1,339)

Development and Validation of a Rear Head Surround Foam Performance Specification for Stock Car Racing

2025-01-8353

04/01/2025

Over the last two decades many improvements have been made in stock car racing driver safety. One of these is the head surround, which is rigidly secured to and an integral part of the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC) seating environment and serves as an effective restraint for head protection during lateral and rear impacts. However, previous head impact material specifications were optimized for moderate to severe impacts and did not address low severity impacts that occur frequently during typical driving, such as race restart vehicle nose-to-tail contact. This study focused on developing a test methodology for comprehensive evaluation of rear head surround materials for low, moderate and severe impacts. Specifically, this study aimed to formulate a specification that maintains previous material performance during high speed impacts, while decreasing head accelerations at low speed impacts. Quasi-static and dynamic drop tower testing of sample materials

Gray, Alexandra N., Harper, Matthew G., Mukherjee, Sayak, Patalak, John P., Gaewsky, James

Analysis of Occupants' Responses in Frontal Sled Tests under a Reclined Rigid Seat Environment

2025-01-8734

04/01/2025

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

A Chronology of Research and Events to-Date Significant to Occupant Protection in Rear-End Automobile Impacts

2025-01-8725

04/01/2025

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

A Sled Test Methodology for 25% Offset Crash Tests

2025-01-8737

04/01/2025

Sled crash tests are an important tool to develop automotive restraint systems. Compared with full-scale crash tests, the sled test has a shorter development cycle of the restraint system and lower cost. The objective of the present study is to create a cost-effective sled test methodology, calculate the optimal static yaw angle and loading curves, and analyze the motion response and injuries of the dummy in the small overlap crash test. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology was verified under two typical small overlap frontal crash modes: “energy-absorption” and “sideswipe”. The results show that with the calculated yaw angle α, the HIC was different from the small overlap crash model, but all remaining indices were within 5% of the injury criteria. All International Organization for Standardization (ISO) values between the combined accelerations of all parts of the dummy and those of the basic model exceeded 0.75, and some values were above 0.8. Therefore, the proposed sled

Yu, Liu, Chen, Jianzhuo, Wan, Ming Xin, Fan, Tiqiang, Yang, Peilong, Nie, Zhenlong, Ren, Lihai, Cheng, James Chih

The Influence of Impact Location and Angle on the Dynamic Response of a Large Omnidirectional Child Dummy Head and Neck Complex

2025-01-8740

04/01/2025

Head injuries are a common cause of fatality and long-term impairment in child occupants in motor vehicle crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) where the head was designed to match pediatric biomechanical impact response targets from previous literature. The purpose of this study was to compare experimental and computational results for eight impact directions at 45-degree increments around the LODC head under two levels of impact severity: low and high, corresponding to nominal velocities of 3.08 mm/ms and 5.42 mm/ms, respectively. The experimental setup consists of the LODC head and neck assembly rigidly attached to a circular fixture plate and a hemispherical-shaped impactor 76.2 mm in diameter. The acceleration and angular velocity responses were measured and computed from the LODC finite element (FE) head CG and compared against the experimental data. Experimental

Challa, Abhishikt, Noll, Scott

Aggregation of Cervical Loads in Rear Impact Crash Tests and Comparison to Activities of Daily Living

2025-01-8708

04/01/2025

Peak upper and lower neck load data from rear impact crash testing were reviewed, aggregated, and analyzed from over 1,800 tests of existing peer-reviewed literature and research as well as available testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Both human volunteers and anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) were subjects of the reviewed studies and testing. Peak upper and lower neck axial forces (compression and tension), sagittal shear forces, and sagittal moments (flexion and extension) from available crash testing were reported and analyzed as functions of measured change in velocity (delta-V) ranging from approximately 3 to 60 km/h (1.9 to 37 mph). This load data was then further analyzed for possible trends amongst various testing conditions, such as seat type, ATD used, and subject seating position within the vehicle chassis and seat to develop a simple linear model. The linear regressions

Kazmierczak, Alex, Umale, Sagar, Visalli, Alyssa, Webb, Ella, Kashdan, Aryeh, Randles, Bryan, Welcher, Judson

Predicting Head Injury Criterion in Real-World Frontal Impacts

2025-01-8709

04/01/2025

Research on modeling head injury metrics and head acceleration waveforms from real-world collisions has been limited compared to vehicle crash pulses. Prior studies have used rectangular, triangular, polynomial, half-sine, and haversine pulse functions to model vehicle crash pulses and have employed more complex approximations for head injury metrics. This study aimed to develop a method to predict 15 ms Head Injury Criterion (HIC15) in frontal passenger vehicle impacts using these simple pulse functions, where only occupant peak head acceleration and head impact duration are known. Vehicle crash tests from the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) were selected for frontal impacts that included driver occupants. Head acceleration and shoulder belt load channels of Hybrid III 50th percentile male anthropomorphic test devices were collected and separated for training a set of ratios and testing their performance. Rectangular, triangular, quadratic, half-sine, and haversine pulse functions

Westrom, Clyde, Tanczos, Rachel, Adanty, Kevin, Shimada, Sean

The Biomechanical Effects of Neck and Back Cushion / Pillow / Support Devices in Low-Speed Rear Impacts

2025-01-8728

04/01/2025

There are numerous commercially available neck and back support/cushion/pillow devices which are commonly attached to seats by vehicle owners. To our knowledge, there has been no published research on the biomechanical effects of these devices in low-speed rear impacts. To address this, a series of 54 simulated low-speed rear impact tests were conducted using a validated remote-controlled crash sled system. All tests utilized an instrumented BioRID II rear impact anthropomorphic test device (ATD) restrained using a 3-point seatbelt system in a 2018 Toyota Camry LE driver’s seat. Two delta-V ranges were used: a lower range from 7.2 to 8.0 kph (4.5 to 5.0 mph) and a higher range from 10.5 to 11.3 kph (6.5 to 7.0 mph). Six neck only devices, one combination neck and back device, and three back only devices were assessed. Two tests per delta-V range for each device and each device adjustment position were conducted and compared against five reference tests without any devices at each delta

Phan, Andrew, Gross, Jamie, Umale, Sagar, Crowley, Shannon, Glasser, Gabriel, Furbish, Christopher

TOC

99-07-01-0TOC

02/17/2025

TOC

Tobolski, Sue

Evaluating the Responses of the THOR and Hybrid III Small Female ATDs during Frontal Sled Tests

09-12-03-0013

12/10/2024

There is evidence to suggest that males and females respond differently in motor vehicle collisions, making it important to study how both sexes respond to vehicle safety systems. The THOR 5th-percentile female (THOR-05F) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) was developed to represent a small female occupant better than the Hybrid III 5th-percentile female (HIII-05F) ATD. However, there are few studies in which they have been directly compared. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the responses of the two ATDs in matched frontal sled tests simulating a realistic driver seat environment. A 7th-generation Toyota Camry driver seat test buck was used with Camry parts (i.e., 3-point belt, modified seat, steering wheel, airbag, and column). The belt was equipped with a 4-kN load limiter and pretensioner. Rigid foam (65 psi) was used to represent the knee bolster. Thirteen tests were conducted using speeds of 30 and 56 kph. Chest bands were used to measure external chest

Boyle, David M., Albert, Devon L., Hardy, Warren N., Kemper, Andrew R.

Toward a Test-Based Methodology to Evaluate Unrestrained Torso Neck Braces Using the Hybrid III ATD and MATD Neck

09-12-03-0012

11/23/2024

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.

Finite Element Comparison of Human and Hybrid III Responses in the Airworthiness Certification of Normal Aircraft

2024-01-7018

11/15/2024

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 Validation

09-12-02-0015

11/12/2024

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

Skeletal Surrogate Metastructural Anisotropy Mimicry and the Influence of Fabrication Material

09-12-02-0009

11/12/2024

Human body models have been used for decades to inform efforts in promoting automobile occupant and pedestrian safety. However, many of these models fail to capture the intricacies of individual variability. Cadaveric subjects typically exceed representative age ranges and hence mechanics. Animal subjects typically require specific setups that stray from that which is representative of human crash scenarios. Computational models can only consider so many practical real-world variables. Artificial surrogates, dummies being popular among them, are very popular for reusability and robust data collection. However, even the biomechanically accurate skeletal surrogates available commercially are limited in that they do not consider human variability and skeletal microstructure local variability. The objective of the work herein is to assess computational methods of metastructural variability mimicry by fabrication material. We implement mimicry approaches focusing on bulk isotropic

Hezrony, Benjamin S., C. F. Lopes, Pedro, Brown, Philip J.

Sonometric Triangulation for Seated Pelvis Orientation

09-12-02-0016

11/12/2024

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, Allison, Sirhan, Katerena, MacDonald, Robert, Dannaoui, Abdul, Mazloum, Aisha, Ochocki, Katarzyna, ‘Dale’ Bass , Cameron R.

Comprehensive Characterization of Soft Tissue and Surrogate Materials across Varied Loading Methods

09-12-02-0012

11/12/2024

Exploring the mechanical properties of soft tissues under compressive loading is crucial for understanding their role in automobile incidents. Soft tissues, which serve as cushions or padding between bone and vehicle interiors, significantly influence contact duration and forces, thereby altering incident kinematics and injury. In this investigation, muscle and soft connective tissues from post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) forearms were excised and subjected to compression and indentation testing methods at various rates and strains. Specific samples with higher proportions of muscle were compared against samples without muscle tissues to evaluate the role of compositional changes. Anthropomorphic test device (ATD) upper extremity foam and vinyl–foam composite analog tissues underwent similar testing for comparison. High impact rates simulating those in high-speed automotive collisions were achieved using a custom-built drop tower impactor setup. The results revealed significantly

Dennis, Cole J., Quenneville, Cheryl E.

Numerical Investigation on Performance Based Methodology for Developing Vane Design of AC Duct

2024-28-0004

10/17/2024

Airflow directionality in a vehicle cabin is one of the concerns of car owners, researchers, and vehicle manufacturers. After exposed/parked in hot ambient condition for a long time, HVAC system normally takes few minutes to cool down and reach an acceptable cabin temperature for the passenger comfort. To ensure proper airflow distribution inside the cabin, the AC duct & vanes ability to direct airflow must be evaluated. Objective of this work is to propose a methodology for developing the vane design of AC system duct using CFD approach. Two different goals are attempted. Firstly, the effect of horizontal and vertical vane angle on airflow directionality is investigated with DoE approach. Then factors influencing the airflow directionality are investigated using factorial study approach. CFD based factorial analysis (L9 orthogonal array) was conducted using three components at three levels. The impact of number of horizontal vanes, number of vertical vanes and distance between them on

Mahesh, A, Baskar, Subramaniyan, Raju, Kumar, Gopinathan, Nagarajan

Frontal-Crash Occupant Protection in the Rear Seat: Submarining and Abdomen/Pelvis Response in Midsized Male Surrogates

2023-22-0005

04/17/2024

Frontal-crash sled tests were conducted to assess submarining protection and abdominal injury risk for midsized male occupants in the rear seat of modern vehicles. Twelve sled tests were conducted in four rear-seat vehicle-bucks with twelve post-mortem human surrogates (PMHS). Select kinematic responses and submarining incidence were compared to previously observed performance of the Hybrid III 50th-percentile male and THOR-50M ATDs (Anthropomorphic Test Devices) in matched sled tests conducted as part of a previous study. Abdominal pressure was measured in the PMHS near each ASIS (Anterior Superior Iliac Spine), in the inferior vena cava, and in the abdominal aorta. Damage to the abdomen, pelvis, and lumbar spine of the PMHS was also identified. In total, five PMHS underwent submarining. Four PMHS, none of which submarined, sustained pelvis fractures and represented the heaviest of the PMHS tested. Submarining of the PMHS occurred in two out of four vehicles. In the matched tests, the

Guettler, Allison J., Bianco, Samuel T., Albert, Devon L., Boyle, David M., Kemper, Andrew R., Hardy, Warren N.

Driving Behavior during Left-Turn Maneuvers at Intersections on Left-Hand Traffic Roads

2023-22-0007

04/17/2024

Understanding left-turn vehicle-pedestrian accident mechanisms is critical for developing accident-prevention systems. This study aims to clarify the features of driver behavior focusing on drivers’ gaze, vehicle speed, and time to collision (TTC) during left turns at intersections on left-hand traffic roads. Herein, experiments with a sedan and light-duty truck (< 7.5 tons GVW) are conducted under four conditions: no pedestrian dummy (No-P), near-side pedestrian dummy (Near-P), far-side pedestrian dummy (Far-P) and near-and-far side pedestrian dummies (NF-P). For NF-P, sedans have a significantly shorter gaze time for left-side mirrors compared with light-duty trucks. The light-duty truck’s average speed at the initial line to the intersection (L1) and pedestrian crossing line (L0) is significantly lower than the sedan’s under No-P, Near-P, and NF-P conditions, without any significant difference between any two conditions. The TTC for sedans is significantly shorter than that for

Matsui, Yasuhiro, Narita, Masashi, Oikawa, Shoko

Comparison of Adult Female and Male PMHS Pelvis and Lumbar Response to Underbody Blast

2023-22-0003

04/17/2024

The goal of this study was to gather and compare kinematic response and injury data on both female and male whole-body Post-mortem Human Surrogates (PMHS) responses to Underbody Blast (UBB) loading. Midsized males (50th percentile, MM) have historically been most used in biomechanical testing and were the focus of the Warrior Injury Assessment Manikin (WIAMan) program, thus this population subgroup was selected to be the baseline for female comparison. Both small female (5th percentile, SF) and large female (75th percentile, LF) PMHS were included in the test series to attempt to discern whether differences between male and female responses were predominantly driven by sex or size. Eleven tests, using 20 whole-body PMHS, were conducted by the research team. Preparation of the rig and execution of the tests took place at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds (APG) in Aberdeen, MD. Two PMHS were used in each test. The Accelerative Loading Fixture (ALF) version 2, located at APG’s Bear Point range

Pietsch, Hollie, Cristino, Danielle, Danelson, Kerry, Bolte, John, Mason, Matthew, Kemper, Andrew, Cavanaugh, John, Hardy, Warren

Dummy Positioning at Reclined Seating Position before Impact Testing

2024-01-2490

04/09/2024

Alongside advancements in automated vehicle technologies, occupants within vehicle compartments are enjoying increased freedom to relax and enjoy their journeys. For instance, reclined seating postures have become more prevalent and comfortable compared to upright seating when Highly Automated Vehicles (HAVs) are introduced. Unfortunately, most Anthropomorphic Testing Devices (ATD) do not support reclined postures. THOR-AV 50M is a specially designed dummy for reclined postures. As a crucial tool for developing safety restraint systems to protect reclined occupants, the first question is how to position it correctly on a reclined seat before impact testing. In this study, classical zero gravity seats were selected. H-point coordinators of selected seat at 25°, 40° and 60° seatback angle were measured and compared by using H-point machine (HPM) even though current HPM was not designed for reclined seat. THOR-AV 50M with loosened joints, served to simulate human relaxation fully when

Liu, Chongqing, Wang, Zhenwen

Effects of Anthropometry and Passive Restraint Deployment Timing on Occupant Metrics in Moderate-Severity Offset Frontal Collisions

2024-01-2749

04/09/2024

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 Vehicle-Based Metrics for Assessing the Severity of Side Impacts

09-12-01-0004

10/30/2023

A research program has been launched in Iran to develop an evaluation method for comparing the safety performance of vehicles in real-world collisions with crash test results. The goal of this research program is to flag vehicle models whose safety performance in real-world accidents does not match their crash test results. As part of this research program, a metric is needed to evaluate the severity of side impacts in crash tests and real-world accidents. In this work, several vehicle-based metrics were analyzed and calculated for a dataset of more than 500 side impact tests from the NHTSA crash test database. The correlation between the metric values and the dummy injury criteria was studied to find the most appropriate metric with the strongest correlation coefficient values with the dummy injury criteria. Delta-V and a newly created metric T K 200 Y , which is an indicator of the kinetic energy transferred to occupants in a 200 ms time interval and in the lateral direction, were

Sadeghipour, Emad

Letter from the Special Issue Editors

09-11-02-0009

09/20/2023

Letter from the Special Issue Editors

Mueller, Becky, Bautsch, Brian, Mansfield, Julie

Comparison of the Knee–Thigh–Hip Response in Small Female ATDs with Female PMHS

09-11-02-0013

09/20/2023

Bilateral knee impacts were conducted on Hybrid III and THOR 5th percentile female anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), and the results were compared to previously reported female PMHS data. Each ATD was impacted at velocities of 2.5, 3.5, and 4.9 m/s. Knee–thigh–hip (KTH) loading data, obtained either via direct measurement or through exercising a one-dimensional lumped parameter model (LPM), was analyzed for differences in loading characteristics including the maximum force, time to maximum force, loading rate, and loading duration. In general, the Hybrid III had the highest loading rate and maximum force, and the lowest loading duration and time to peak force for each point along KTH. Conversely, the PMHS generally had the lowest loading rate and maximum force, and the highest loading duration and time to peak force for each point along KTH. The force transfer from the knee to the femur was 79.2 ± 0.3% for the Hybrid III 5th female, 82.7 ± 0.4% for the THOR-05F, and 70.6 ± 1.7% for

Carpenter, Randolff L., Berthelson, Parker R., Donlon, John-Paul, Forman, Jason L.

Analysis of Kinetic Metrics in Submarining vs Non-Submarining Conditions for a 6YO Pediatric Human Body Model in Frontal Impacts

09-11-02-0020

09/20/2023

Field data has shown that belt-positioning boosters help reduce the risk of injury to children in a crash. This study builds on prior submarining work (Slusher et al. 2022) and aims to analyze kinetic metrics (which can be easily recorded from anthropomorphic test devices in crash tests) in submarining and non-submarining conditions for a 6-year-old pediatric human occupant in frontal crashes.

Williams, Bethany, Maheshwari, Jalaj

A Parametric Thoracic Spine Model Accounting for Geometric Variations by Age, Sex, Stature, and Body Mass Index

09-11-02-0012

09/20/2023

In this study, a parametric thoracic spine (T-spine) model was developed to account for morphological variations among the adult population. A total of 84 CT scans were collected, and the subjects were evenly distributed among age groups and both sexes. CT segmentation, landmarking, and mesh morphing were performed to map a template mesh onto the T-spine vertebrae for each sampled subject. Generalized procrustes analysis (GPA), principal component analysis (PCA), and linear regression analysis were then performed to investigate the morphological variations and develop prediction models. A total of 13 statistical models, including 12 T-spine vertebrae and a spinal curvature model, were combined to predict a full T-spine 3D geometry with any combination of age, sex, stature, and body mass index (BMI). A leave-one-out root mean square error (RMSE) analysis was conducted for each node of the mesh predicted by the statistical model for every T-spine vertebra. Most of the RMSEs were less

Lian, Lihan, Baek, Michelle, Ma, Sunwoo, Jones, Monica, Hu, Jingwen

Comparison of Head, Neck, and Chest Injury Risks between Front- and Rear-Seated Hybrid III 50th-Percentile Male ATDs in Matched Frontal NCAP Tests

09-12-01-0001

09/19/2023

The objective of this study was to compare head, neck, and chest injury risks between front and rear-seated Hybrid III 50th-percentile male anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) during matched frontal impacts. Seven vehicles were converted to rear seat test bucks (two sedans, three mid-size SUVs, one subcompact SUV, and one minivan) and then used to perform sled testing with vehicle-specific frontal NCAP acceleration pulses and a rear seated (i.e., second row) Hybrid III 50th male ATD. Matched front seat Hybrid III 50th male ATD data were obtained from the NHTSA Vehicle Crash Test Database for each vehicle. HIC15, Nij, maximum chest acceleration, and maximum chest deflection were compared between the front and rear seat tests, as well as between vehicles with conventional and advanced three-point belt restraint systems in the rear seat. Additionally, a modified version of the NCAP frontal star rating was calculated for the front and rear seat tests. All injury metrics, except for chest

Bianco, Samuel T., Albert, Devon L., Guettler, Allison J., Hardy, Warren N., Kemper, Andrew R.

Experimental Assessment of Human and Crash Dummy Skin to Vehicle Air Bag Fabric Coefficients of Friction

09-11-03-0014

09/18/2023

Oblique motor vehicle crashes can cause serious head or brain injuries due to contact with interior vehicle structures even with the deployment of air bags, as they are not yet completely successful in preventing traumatic brain injury. Rotational head velocity is strongly correlated to the risk of brain injury, and this head motion is potentially related to the tangential friction force developed during contact between the head and air bags. Although crash test dummy head skins are designed with appropriate mass properties and anthropometry to simulate the normal direction impact response of the human head, it is not known whether they accurately represent the frictional properties of human skin during air bag interaction. This study experimentally characterized the dynamic friction coefficient between human/dummy skins and air bag fabrics using a pin-on-disc tribometer. Human skin samples were harvested from five locations (left and right forehead, left and right cheek, and chin

Noll, Scott, Dong, Sheng, Kang, Yun-Seok, Bolte, John, Stammen, Jason, Moorhouse, Kevin

Pedestrian Dummy Full-Scale Test Results and Resource Materials

J2868_202309 (Current)

09/06/2023

The materials included in this SAE Information Report are not intended to represent a complete summary of pedestrian safety research activities, but are rather a collection of materials which can be helpful to users of SAE J2782.

Human Biomechanics and Simulations Standards Committee

Assessment of Vehicular Vision Obstruction due to Driver-Side B-Pillar and Remediation with Blind Spot Eliminator

2023-01-5056

08/22/2023

Blind spots created by the driver-side B-pillar impair the ability of the driver to assess their surroundings accurately, significantly contributing to the frequency and severity of vehicular accidents. Vehicle manufacturers cannot readily eliminate the B-pillar due to regulatory guidelines intended to protect vehicular occupants in the event of side collisions and rollover incidents. Furthermore, assistance implements utilized to counteract the adverse effects of blind spots remain ineffective due to technological limitations and optical impediments. This paper introduces mechanisms to quantify the obstruction caused by the B-pillar when the head of the driver is facing forward and turning 90°, typical of an over-the-shoulder blind spot check. It uses the metrics developed to demonstrate the relationship between B-pillar width and the obstruction angle. The paper then creates a methodology to determine the movement required of the driver to eliminate blind spots. Ultimately, this

Baysal, Dilara N.

Hybrid III Six-Year-Old Child Dummy User’s Manual

J2706_202307 (Current)

07/06/2023

This user’s manual covers the Hybrid III 6-year-old child test dummy, including changes specified in 49 CFR Part 572, Subpart N in the final rule dated December 9, 2010. It is intended for technicians who work with this device. It covers the construction and clothing, disassembly and reassembly, available instrumentation, external dimensions and segment masses, as well as certification and inspection test procedures. Appendix A contains guidelines for safe handling of instrumented dummies. Appendix B contains instructions for repairing dummy flesh. Appendix C includes procedures for adjusting the joints throughout the dummy.

Dummy Testing and Equipment Committee

User’s Manual for the Hybrid III Large Male Test Dummy

J2860_202306 (Current)

06/28/2023

This SAE Surface Vehicle Information Report identifies and defines the assembly/disassembly and certification procedures relating to the use of the Hybrid III Large Male Test Dummy.

Dummy Testing and Equipment Committee

Investigation of Potential Injury Patterns and Occupant Kinematics in Frontal Impact with PMHS in Reclined Postures

2022-22-0001

06/27/2023

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

Obese Occupant Response in Reclined and Upright Seated Postures in Frontal Impacts

2022-22-0002

06/27/2023

The American population is getting heavier and automated vehicles will accommodate unconventional postures. While studies replicating mid-size and upright fore-aft seated occupants are numerous, experiments with post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) with obese and reclined occupants are sparse. The objective of this study was to compare the kinematics of the head-neck, torso and pelvis, and document injuries and injury patterns in frontal impacts. Six PMHS with a mean body mass index of 38.2 ± 5.3 kg/m2 were equally divided between upright and reclined groups (seatback: 23°, 45°), restrained by a three-point integrated belt, positioned on a semi-rigid seat, and exposed to low and moderate velocities (15, 32 km/h). Data included belt loads, spinal accelerations, kinematics, and injuries from x-rays, computed tomography, and necropsy. At 15 km/h speed, no significant difference in the occupant kinematics and evidence of orthopedic failure was observed. At 32 km/h speed, the primary

Somasundaram, Karthik, Humm, John R., Yoganandan, Narayan, Hauschild, Hans, Driesslein, Klaus, Pintar, Frank A.

A Comparison of the Mid-Size Male THOR and Hybrid III ATDs in Vehicle Frontal Crash Tests

2022-22-0005

06/27/2023

In order to evaluate the THOR-50M as a front impact Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) for vehicle safety design, the ATD was compared to the H3-50M in matching vehicle crash tests for 20 unique vehicle models from 2 vehicle manufacturers. For the belted driver condition, a total of fifty-four crash tests were investigated in the 56.3 km/h (35 mph) front rigid barrier impact condition. Four more tests were compared for the unbelted driver and right front passenger at 40.2 km/h (25 mph) in the flat frontal and 30-degree right oblique rigid barrier impact conditions. The two ATDs were also evaluated for their ability to predict injury risk by comparing their fleet average injury risk to Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) accident data for similar conditions. The differences in seating position and their effect on ATD responses were also investigated. This study showed that the belted THOR-50M injury responses were higher than the H3-50M by 25%-180%, in all reported ATD responses

O’Connor, Chris, Kim, Agnes, Barrette, Tim, Dix, Jeff

Development and Validation of a Dynamic Abdominal Pressure Twin Sensor Finite Element Model

09-11-03-0011

06/07/2023

Some anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) currently being developed are equipped with abdominal pressure twin sensors (APTS) for the assessment of abdominal injuries and as an indicator of the occurrence of the submarining of an occupant during a crash event. The APTS is comprised of a fluid-filled polyurethane elastomeric bladder which is sealed by an aluminum cap with an implanted pressure transducer. It is integrated into ATD abdomens, and fluid pressure is increased due to the abdomen/bladder compression due to interactions with the seatbelt or other structures. In this article, a nonlinear dynamic finite element (FE) model is constructed of an APTS using LS-PrePost and converted to the LS-Dyna solver input format. The polyurethane bladder and the internal fluid are represented with viscoelastic and isotropic hypoelastic material models, respectively. The aluminum cap was considered a rigid part since it is significantly stiffer than the bladder and the fluid. To characterize the

Yang, Peiyu, Katangoori, Divya, Noll, Scott, Stammen, Jason, Suntay, Brian, Carlson, Michael, Moorhouse, Kevin

Hybrid III Ten-Year Old Child Dummy User’s Manual

J2858_202305 (Current)

05/01/2023

This user's manual covers the Hybrid III 10-year old child test dummy. The manual is intended for use by technicians who work with this test device. It covers the construction and clothing, assembly and disassembly, available instrumentation, external dimensions and segment masses, as well as certification and inspection test procedures. It includes guidelines for handling accelerometers, guidelines for flesh repair, and joint adjustment procedures. Finally, it includes drawings for some of the test equipment that is unique to this dummy.

Dummy Testing and Equipment Committee

Comparison of Child Restraint System (CRS) Installation Methods and Misuse During Far-Side Impact Sled Testing

2023-01-0817

04/11/2023

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

Full-Scale Validation of Modified Pedestrian Dummy

2023-01-0786

04/11/2023

Injury assessment by using a whole-body pedestrian dummy is one of the ways to investigate pedestrian safety performance of vehicles. The authors’ group has improved the biofidelity of the lower limb and the pelvis of the mid-sized male pedestrian dummy (POLAR III) by modifying those components. This study aims to evaluate the biofidelity of the whole-body response of the modified dummy in full-scale impact tests. The pelvis, the thigh and the leg of POLAR III have been modified in a past study by optimizing their compliance by means of the installation of plastic and rubber parts, which were used for the tests. The generic buck developed for the assessment of pedestrian dummy whole-body impact response and specified in SAE J3093 was used for this study. The buck representing the geometry of a small family car is comprised of six parts: lower bumper, bumper, grille, hood edge, hood and windshield. Tests were performed by conforming to SAE J2782 that specifies test conditions to

Asanuma, Hiroyuki, Bae, Hyejin, Nakamura, Hidetoshi, Gunji, Yasuaki, Nagashima, Akiko, Mori, Fumie

Exploration of Vehicle Body Countermeasures Subjected to High Energy Loading

2023-01-0003

04/11/2023

Enhanced protection against high speed crashes requires more aggressive passive safety countermeasures as compared to what are provided in vehicle structures today. Apart from such collision-related scenarios, high energy explosions, accidentally caused or otherwise, require superior energy-absorbing capability of vehicle body subsystems. A case in point is a passenger vehicle subjected to an underbody blast emanating shock wave energy of military standards. In the current study, assessment of the behavior of a “hollow” countermeasure in the form of a depressed steel false floor panel attached with spot-welds along flanges to a typical predominantly flat floor panel of a car is initially carried out with an explicit LS-DYNA solver. This is followed up with the evaluation of PU (polyurethane) foam-filled and liquid-filled false floor countermeasures. In all cases, a charge is detonated under the false floor subjecting it to a high-energy shock pressure loading. For the case of the

Ramachandra, Sanketh, Deb, Anindya, Chou, Clifford

Development and Calibration of the Large Omnidirectional Child ATD Head and Neck Complex Finite Element Model

2023-01-0557

04/11/2023

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) to improve the biofidelity of the currently available Hybrid III 10-year-old (HIII-10C) ATD. The improvements of the LODC over the HIII-10C include changes in sub-assemblies such as the head and neck, where the LODC head is a redesigned HIII-10C head with pediatric mass properties and the neck has a modified atlanto-occipital joint to replicate observations made from human specimens. The current study focuses on developing a dynamic, nonlinear finite element (FE) model of the LODC ATD head and neck complex. The FE mesh is generated using HyperMesh based on the three-dimensional CAD model. The material data, contact definitions and initial conditions are defined in LS-PrePost and converted to LS-Dyna solver input format. The initial and boundary conditions are defined to replicate the neck flexion experimental tests. Next, an inverse method is

Yang, Peiyu, Katangoori, Divya Reddy, Noll, Scott

Dynamic Testing and Modeling of a Variable Stiffness Seatback

2023-01-0648

04/11/2023

The concept of a seat with an active adjustable seatback stiffness for enhanced safety during a rear impact was published previously. Static testing of a demonstrative prototype is supplemented with repeated dynamic tests at various velocity / acceleration levels. These tests were performed with a Hybrid III Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) and demonstrate that the occupant response can be modified by engagement of the device based on the severity of the crash pulse and other factors. A mathematical model for the dynamic response of the seat and the correlated occupant response is in development. Refinement of this technology is complemented by results of the dynamic testing.

Warner, Wyatt, Warner, Mark

Evaluation of Occupant Kinematics and Kinetics during Moderate Severity Simulated Frontal Impacts with and without Frontal Airbag Deployment

2023-01-0559

04/11/2023

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

Aggregation of Lumbar Loads in Rear Impact Crash Tests

2023-01-0647

04/11/2023

An analysis of peak lumbar load data collected from the existing peer-reviewed literature on rear impact crash tests was performed. Values for peak lumbar tension/compression, peak lumbar sagittal forces, and peak lumbar flexion/extension moments were aggregated from each study. The trends in the accumulated data were analyzed as functions of the changes in velocity (delta-Vs) measured during the crash tests. The data were further analyzed to identify differences in trends found across variations in the testing conditions used across studies. These testing conditions included type of anthropometric test device (ATD) used, type of ATD pelvis used, ATD seating position, production year of seat used, type of seat used, and type of seat restraint used. Data were also aggregated from peer-reviewed research quantifying peak lumbar compression in human subjects performing various tasks, including activities of daily living (ADLs), tasks related to sports and exercise, and industrial tasks

Kashdan, Aryeh, Umale, Sagar, Kazmierczak, Alex, Kasselik, Joseph, Randles, Bryan, Furbish, Christopher, Welcher, Judson

Lumbar Flexion Test Procedure for the Hybrid III 50th Male Dummy

J3074_202303 (Current)

03/20/2023

This procedure establishes a recommended practice for performing a lumbar flexion test to the Hybrid III 50th male anthropomorphic test device (ATD or crash dummy). This test was created to satisfy the demand from industry to have a certification test which characterizes the lumbar without interaction of other dummy components. In the past, there have not been any tests to evaluate the performance of Hybrid III 50th lumbar.

Dummy Testing and Equipment Committee

Hybrid III Large Male Drawing Package

J2859_202303 (Current)

03/08/2023

This SAE Surface Vehicle Information Report identifies and defines the drawings and parts relating to the use of the Hybrid III Large Male Test Dummy.

Dummy Testing and Equipment Committee

H-III5F Chest Jacket Harmonization

J2921_202303 (Current)

03/08/2023

Dummy Testing and Equipment Committee

TOC

99-05-01-0TOC

02/28/2023

Tobolski, Sue

Hybrid III 3-Year Old Child Dummy User’s Manual

J2857_202301 (Current)01/13/2023

This user’s manual covers the Hybrid III 3-year old child test dummy. The manual is intended for use by technicians who work with this test device. It covers the construction and clothing, assembly and disassembly, available instrumentation, external dimensions and segment masses, as well as certification and inspection test procedures. It includes guidelines for handling accelerometers, guidelines for flesh repair, and joint adjustment procedures. Finally, it includes drawings for some of the test equipment that is unique to this dummy.

Dummy Testing and Equipment Committee

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