Limiting performance of seat belt systems for the prevention of thoracic injuries

Abstract

The theoretically optimal performance of seat belt systems for occupants in automobile frontal crashes is investigated based on a two-mass injury model of the thorax. The performance is measured by thoracic injury criteria which include the maximum chest acceleration, compression and viscous response. The relationship between the best possible performance (limiting performance) of the seat belt system and the distance between the occupant and the interior components of the vehicle is displayed in the form of trade-off curves, which can be used for the evaluation of seat belt performance. The characteristics of the optimal seat belt force and the kinematics of the system are illustrated. The results indicate that the optimal seat belt force is not constant during an impact and that an initial impulse is required. However, constant seat belt force can provide thoracic restraint that is close to the optimal solution.

Keywords

seat belt force limiting performance optimization thoracic injury prevention frontal crashes

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Evans

Traffic Safety and the Driver, 1991 (Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York).

Sevin

Pilkey

W. D.

Optimal Shock and Vibration Isolation, 1971 (Shock and Vibration Information Center, Washington, DC).

Pilkey

W. D.

The chebychev norm as a deterministic alternative for problems with uncertainties. J. Probabilistic Engng Mechanics, 1996, 11, 215–219.

Lobdell

T. E.

Kroell

C. K.

Schneider

D. C.

Hering

W. E.

Nahum

A. M.

Impact response of the human thorax. In Proceedings of Symposium on Human Impact Response, GMRL, 1972, pp. 201–245.

Neathery

R. F.

Lobdell

T. E.

Mechanical simulation of human thorax under impact. SAE paper 730982, 1972 (SAE, Warrendale, Pennsylvania).

Lau

I. V.

Viano

D. C.

The viscous criterion—bases and applications of an injury severity index for soft tissues. In Proceedings of 30th Stapp Car Crash Conference, SAE paper 861882, 1986, pp. 123–142 (SAE, Warrendale, Pennsylvania).

FMVSS 208, Docket 74-14, Notice 54:53 F. R. 8755, NHTSA, 17 March 1988.

Balandin

D. V.

Bolotnik

N. N.

Pilkey

W. D.

Optimal Protection from Impact, Shock, and Vibration, 1999 (Gordon and Breach, New Jersey).

Viano

D. C.

Evaluation of biomechanical response and potential injury from thoracic impact. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Med., 1978, 49(1), 125–135.

10.

Horsch

J. D.

Melvin

J. W.

Viano

D. C.

Thoracic injury assessment of belt restraint systems based on Hybrid III chest compression. In Proceedings of 35th Stapp Car Crash Conference, SAE paper 912895, 1991, pp. 85–108 (SAE, Warrendale, Pennsylvania).