Dainius Dalmotas

INVESTIGATION OF DUMMY RESPONSE AND RESTRAINT CONFIGURATION FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH UPPER SPINAL CORD INJURY IN A FORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT

Dummy (representing a six month old child) response and restraint configuration factors associated with a known child injury environment were investigated using a spinal cord injury accident case, a full-scale reconstruction, and sled simulations. Results of these tests series indicate that variations in forward-facing child restraint system configurations thought to influence neck loading have a minimal effect for this size dummy. Further investigations with larger child dummies are needed, and the available solution of rear facing restraints for the smaller children is reinforced. For the covering abstract of the compendium see IRRD 880073.

Injury Mechanisms to Occupants Restrained by Three-Point Seat Belts in Side Impacts

Drawing on field data gathered during the course of Transport Canadas Fully Restrained Occupant Study (FROS), the current limits of protection afforded vehicle occupants restrained by conventional three-point seat-belt assemblies in side impacts are examined. The sample under consideration comprises 98 restrained passenger vehicle occupants involved either in a near side or a far side impact, each of whom sustained at least one injury at the AIS 2 or greater severity level (1976 AIS Dictionary). A detailed description of the pattern of injury to this subset of occupants and the damage sustained by the vehicle is presented. The principal mechanisms of injury for various body region groupings are discussed, with special attention being given to the incidence of side compartment intrusion. Other factors influencing injury potential such as occupant age and vehicle size are also discussed. In the case of near side impacts, the data suggest the need for greater attention to be paid in vehicle design to the load path developed in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions so as to minimize the degree of lateral compartment intrusion. Measures aimed at increasing the degree of lateral restraint provided occupants in far side impacts also need to be explored. Both subsets of the victim population would benefit from improvements in side door integrity and interior padding. In comparison to frontal impacts, the mechanisms of injury in side impacts are more varied and complex. Assessment of vehicle performance in lateral impacts may be difficult to realize through a single test on a complete vehicle.

SID-IIS Response in Side Impact Testing

The responses of a 5 th percentile female ATD in the driver and/or rear passenger positions of 56 crashes are described. The Transport Canada side impact programme consisted of LTV-to-car impacts, car-to-car impacts and IIHS barrier-to-car tests. The majority of the tests involved severe crash conditions for which the vehicles were not designed. The SID-lls head, chest and abdominal responses were compared to determine the effects of the striking bullet geometry, the angle of impact, the impact point and the self-protective elements of the struck vehicle, including airbag technology and armrest designs. The SID-lls head responses and defection measures were sufficiently sensitive to discriminate between the various striking vehicles, crash configurations, airbag systems and armrest characteristics. The SID-lls was found to be repeatable and durable and provides the opportunity to evaluate side impact protection in regions of the vehicle that cannot be evaluated with 50 th percentile side impact dummies.

Laboratory Experience with the IR-TRACC Chest Deflection Transducer

In 1998, Rouhana et al. described development of a new device, called the IR-TRACC (InfraRed - Telescoping Rod for Asessment of Chest Compression). Tests have been performed with IR-TRACC units at various labs around the world since 1998. A first-generation was retrofit into a Q3 dummy at TNO. Similarly, a mid sized male Hybrid III dummy thorax and a small female Hybrid III dummy thorax have been designed by FTSS such that each contains 4 second-generation IR-TRACC units. The second generation is the result of continued development by FTSS, especially in the areas of the analysis circuit, manufacturing and calibration methods. This paper presents the results of these efforts with the IR-TRACC and the current state of knowledge relative to its use and usefulness.