YIELDING SEATBACK IS EFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING CAR OCCUPANT FROM WHIPLASH IF PROPERLY DAMPED

A YIELDING SEATBACK, WITH LINEAR OR ROTATIONAL DISPLACEMENT DAMPED BY AN ENERGY-ABSORBING DEVICE, CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF PROTECTING A CAR OCCUPANT FROM WHIPLASH. THIS CONCLUSION IS BASED ON STUDIES OF A NONLINEAR MATHEMATICAL MODEL DEVELOPED TO PREDICT HEAD MOTION DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THE MATHEMATICAL MODEL DESCRIBES THE HEAD MOTION RELATIVE TO THE SHOULDER IN TERMS OF A SHEARING MOTION OF THE NECK AND, SEPARATELY, ROTATION OF THE HEAD ABOUT THE TOP OF THE CERVICAL SPINE. BASIC HEAD-NECK ACTION WITH RIGID SEATBACK AND WITH DAMPED, YIELDING SEATBACK IS DESCRIBED BY ACCELERATION-TIME, VELOCITY-TIME AND DISPLACEMENT-TIME PLOTS. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 77, No 12, PP 24-27
• Authors:
  • Martinez, J L
• Publication Date: 1969-12

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Sae Journal, Soc Automotive Engr

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Energy absorbing materials; Mathematical models; Protection; Rear end crashes; Seats; Whiplash
• Old TRIS Terms: Energy absorbers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220659
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 9 1970 12:00AM