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Published on: September 21, 2017
Rear seat occupant thorax protection in near side impacts
Katarina Bohman1, Erik Rosén, Cecilia Sunnevang
1Autoliv Research, Vårgårda, Sweden.
Summary
Rear seat thoracic airbags significantly reduce serious chest injuries in side-impact crashes. These safety devices offer substantial protection for both adults and children, mitigating injury risks in real-world accident scenarios.
Area of Science:
- Traffic Safety Research
- Biomechanics
- Automotive Engineering
Background:
- Thoracic side-airbags (SAB) are effective for front seat occupants but their benefit for rear seat occupants is not well-established.
- Rear seat occupants, often smaller in stature, face unique risks in side-impact collisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze real-world crash data of rear seat occupants in near side impacts.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of rear seat thoracic side-airbags (SAB) through full-scale vehicle testing.
Main Methods:
- A field study using the NASS-CDS database to examine rear seat crash characteristics, occupant injuries (AIS3+), and injury sources.
- Full-scale crash tests using the SID-IIs dummy in a midsize passenger car, with and without rear SAB, at varying impact severities.
Main Results:
- Field data indicated that thoracic and head injuries were prevalent in rear seat occupants. The rear side interior was the primary injury source.
- Full-scale tests demonstrated that rear SAB reduced average rib deflection by 50%.
- Rear SAB significantly lowered the risk of AIS3+ thoracic injuries, from 36% to 3% at lower severity and 93% to 24% at higher severity.
Conclusions:
- Rear seat thoracic side-airbags show significant potential for reducing thoracic injuries in side impacts.
- The findings support the implementation of SAB for rear seat occupants to enhance overall vehicle safety.
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