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Injury Biomechanics Evaluation of a Driver with Disabilities during a Road Accident-A Numerical Approach
Kamil Sybilski1, Fábio A O Fernandes2,3, Mariusz Ptak4
1Institute of Mechanics and Computational Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Military University of Technology, gen. Sylwestra Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 26, 2022
Summary
Frontal airbags significantly reduce injury risks for disabled drivers in car crashes. Simulation shows activated airbags mitigate asymmetries and prevent severe head injuries like cerebral contusions.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Computational modeling
- Traffic safety
Background:
- Numerical methods accurately predict mechanical load effects on biological structures.
- Computational models of biological systems offer high detail and precision.
- Vehicle safety systems like airbags are crucial for occupant protection, especially for vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of airbag activation on a disabled driver model during a simulated car crash.
- To compare injury prediction with and without airbag deployment in a specific disabled driver scenario.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of frontal airbags in reducing biomechanical parameters and head injuries.
Main Methods:
- Simulated a head-on collision at 50 km/h using a finite element model of a disabled driver without a left leg.
- Analyzed two scenarios: normal airbag activation and disabled airbag.
- Utilized the YEAHM finite element head model to simulate head kinematics and predict injuries based on intracranial pressure.
Main Results:
- Activated airbags reduced asymmetries in belt and body support positioning.
- Biomechanical parameters (HIC, seat belt force, Nij) supported airbag use.
- Without an airbag, simulations predicted contrecoup brain injury (cerebral contusion) due to high intracranial pressure.
Conclusions:
- Frontal airbags significantly decrease injury potential for disabled drivers.
- Airbag deployment is crucial for mitigating severe head injuries, including cerebral contusions.
- The study supports the use of airbags as a vital safety feature for drivers with disabilities.
