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Response corridors of human surrogates in lateral impacts
Matthew R Maltese1, Rolf H Eppinger, Heather H Rhule
1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Stapp Car Crash Journal
|November 11, 2006
Summary
Thirty-six lateral sled tests using Postmortem Human Subjects (PMHS) established new response corridors for thorax, abdomen, and pelvis impacts. These findings enhance the evaluation of Anthropometric Test Devices (ATDs) in simulated vehicle crash environments.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Injury Biomechanics
- Automotive Safety Engineering
Background:
- Anthropometric Test Devices (ATDs) are crucial for simulating human responses in vehicle crashes.
- Establishing robust biofidelity corridors for ATDs requires accurate data from Postmortem Human Subjects (PMHS).
- Understanding the complex interactions between vehicle structures and human body regions is essential for improving occupant protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop biofidelity corridors for the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis of Postmortem Human Subjects (PMHS) under lateral impact conditions.
- To evaluate the influence of different loading conditions (rigid vs. padded) and impact geometries on PMHS responses.
- To establish a comprehensive test battery for assessing Anthropometric Test Device (ATD) performance and internal body region interactions.
Main Methods:
- Conducted thirty-six lateral sled tests on PMHS at impact speeds of 6.7 m/s and 8.9 m/s.
- Utilized varied impact surface geometries, including rigid and padded conditions.
- Measured forces, torso deflections, and accelerations, scaling data to the average male, and calculated mean +/- one standard deviation corridors.
Main Results:
- Developed validated response corridors for force, torso deflection, and acceleration for PMHS under lateral loading.
- Demonstrated that the combination of offset and flat wall impact conditions provides a robust testing scenario.
- Quantified the biomechanical responses of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis to simulated vehicle impacts.
Conclusions:
- The developed PMHS response corridors provide a benchmark for ATD biofidelity in lateral impacts.
- The proposed test conditions, including offset and flat wall impacts, enhance the evaluation of ATD-environment and intra-ATD interactions.
- This research contributes to the refinement of ATDs for more accurate prediction of human injury in automotive safety assessments.
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