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Methods for assessing submarining occurrence in PMHS frontal sled tests: Exploring potential indicators
Karthik Somasundaram1,2, Klaus Driesslein1,2, Anjishnu Banerjee3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Traffic Injury Prevention
|September 10, 2025
Summary
Submarining in Post-Mortem Human Subject (PMHS) tests is better predicted using lap belt load, pelvis rotation, and torso-knee angle. Softer seats and reclined positions increase submarining risk, especially for smaller occupants.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics and Injury Prevention
- Automotive Safety Research
- Human Body Modeling
Background:
- Assessing submarining in Post-Mortem Human Subject (PMHS) tests, particularly with obese subjects, presents significant challenges.
- Understanding submarining is crucial for improving vehicle safety and occupant protection during frontal impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify reliable kinetic and kinematic indicators for assessing submarining occurrence in PMHS frontal sled tests.
- To develop a statistical model for predicting submarining probability based on these indicators and varying test conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 36 whole-body PMHS frontal sled tests with varied seat configurations, anthropometric profiles, crash pulses, and seatback angles.
- Evaluation of seven response parameters including visual inspection, lap belt load, pelvis rotation, iliac bone fracture, torso-knee angle, hip-forward displacement, and anti-submarining plate deflection.
- Development of a logistic regression model using bootstrap techniques and stepwise covariate selection to identify significant predictors of submarining.
Main Results:
- High inter-observer agreement (98.5%, Kappa=0.95) confirmed the reliability of submarining assessments.
- Lap belt load trace morphology, pelvis rotational displacement, and torso-knee angle were identified as the most significant predictors of submarining.
- Submarining probability was highest with soft spring seats (33%), reclined seatbacks (21%), and for small female anthropometry (23%), while obese subjects showed lower likelihood (11%).
Conclusions:
- Kinetic and kinematic indicators, specifically lap belt load, pelvis rotation, and torso-knee angle, can effectively predict submarining in PMHS tests.
- Factors such as soft spring seats, reclined seatback angles, and smaller occupant size increase the likelihood of submarining.
- The developed predictive model and identified factors can enhance computational human body models and improve injury prediction accuracy in automotive safety research.
