An experimental head restraint concept for primary prevention of head and neck injuries in frontal collisions

The Experimental Head Restraint Concept (EHRC), a 'safety belt' for the head, is designed to reduce forces to the head and neck, in frontal car crashes. The EHRC was evaluated experimentally in frontal collision for a crash severity of 11 m/s, and numerically in frontal collision for a crash severity of 11 and 15 m/s. Experimental data obtained from a frontal barrier test (11 m/s) showed a 67% reduction of the HIC value from 411 (without EHRC) to 136 (with EHRC). The same level of reduction was also obtained for the higher speed in the numerical simulation. The moment in the neck was shown in experimental configuration to increase a few percent using the EHRC, but as presented in a numerical analysis, the moment was reduced by stiffening the EHRC. The EHRC clearly has a potential role in the search for primary prevention of neurotrauma injuries in frontal related car crashes. However, there is a strong need for more advanced injury criteria for the neck in order to optimize such complex safety systems.