The Effects of Inboard Shoulder Belt and Lap Belt Loadings on Chest Deflection

Chest injuries occur frequently in frontal collisions. During impact, tension in the lap belt is transferred to the inboard shoulder belt, which compresses the lower ribs of the occupant. In this research, inboard shoulder belt and lap belt geometries and forces were investigated to reduce chest deflection. First, the inboard shoulder belt geometry was changed by the lap/shoulder belt (L/S) junction for the rear seat occupant in sled tests using Hybrid III finite element simulation, sled tests and THOR simulation. As the L/S junction was closer to the ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine), chest deflection of the Hybrid III was smaller. The L/S junction around the ilium has the potential to reduce chest deflection without significant increase of head excursion. For THOR, although the chest deflection reduction effect due to closer L/S junction to the ASIS was observed, chest deflection was still substantially large since the lap belt overrode the ASIS. Second, measures to hook the ASIS of the THOR by the lap belt were examined. Sled tests at 30 and 50 km/h were conducted with THOR in the rear seat, and it was demonstrated that the outboard lap belt and buckle pretensioners improved the lap belt and ASIS interaction, and were also useful in reducing the deflection at the inboard-side of the lower chest. Finally, the lap belt overlap with the ASIS was compared among 10 volunteers, Hybrid III, and THOR. Some volunteers had the ASIS located at the torso-thigh junction, and the lap belt did not overlap the ASIS sufficiently. However, although the ASIS location of THOR is also at the torso-thigh junction, the lap belt overlapped the ASIS because of the abdomen's and femur's shape. In the future, it will be necessary to consider that the outboard lap belt and buckle pretensioners are also effective for the ASIS restraint of all human car occupants.