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Development of Side Impact Thoracic Injury Criteria and Their Application to the Modified ES-2 Dummy with Rib
Shashi Kuppa1, Rolf H Eppinger, Felicia McKoy
1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Stapp Car Crash Journal
|November 11, 2006
Summary
Side impact sled tests using cadavers and dummies revealed age significantly influences thoracic injury risk. Maximum rib deflection and spinal acceleration in the ES-2re dummy best predict injury severity.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Injury Biomechanics
- Automotive Safety
Background:
- Side impact collisions are a major cause of thoracic injuries.
- Understanding occupant response to side impacts is crucial for improving vehicle safety.
- Existing injury criteria require validation with human subject data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the mechanical response and injury patterns of human cadavers in side impacts.
- To evaluate existing side impact injury criteria.
- To develop new injury criteria for the ES-2re dummy.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 42 side impact sled tests on cadavers at 24 and 32 km/h.
- Instrumented cadavers with accelerometers and chest bands; measured impact forces.
- Performed autopsy and radiography to assess injuries (AIS 0-5).
- Conducted 16 sled tests with the ES-2re dummy under similar conditions.
Main Results:
- Rib fractures were the most common injury.
- Subject age significantly influenced injury outcome; gender and mass had minimal influence.
- Maximum normalized average half thorax deflection best predicted severe thoracic injury (AIS ≥ 3 and ≥ 4).
- For the ES-2re dummy, maximum rib deflection and Average Spinal Acceleration (ASA) best predicted thoracic injury.
- Developed specific injury criteria for the ES-2re dummy, linking deflection and ASA to a 50% risk of AIS ≥ 3 injury for a 45-year-old.
Conclusions:
- Subject age is a critical factor in side impact thoracic injury.
- Maximum normalized average half thorax deflection is a strong predictor of cadaver thoracic injury.
- The ES-2re dummy, with developed criteria, can provide valuable insights into real-world thoracic injury risk.
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