ASSESSING THE SKIN ABRASION POTENTIAL OF DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAGS. TECHNICAL REPORT
Investigations of airbag deployments in the field have indicated that while airbags reduce the overall incidence and severity of injury to occupants in frontal collisions, certain minor injuries induced by the deploying airbag can occur. These include skin abrasions to the face, neck, hands, and forearms caused by interaction between the occupant and the deploying airbag. A study was conducted using human volunteers to investigate the airbag design and deployment factors that contribute to airbag-induced skin injury. As part of that study, a laboratory test procedure was developed to assess the skin-injury potential of driver-side airbags using a pressure-sensitive film and a specially designed test fixture. The airbag is mounted in the fixture and deployed so that the airbag fabric strikes the pressure-sensitive film. The pressure distribution on the target surface is determined by digital image analysis of the film and compared to levels of surface pressure corresponding to varying levels of injury severity in tests with human subjects. The information is used to predict the likelihood and severity of skin abrasion. This report describes the fixture, test procedures, and analysis techniques used to assess the abrasion potential of airbags.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Sponsored by Honda Research and Development North America, 1990 Harper's Way, Torrence, California 90501.
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Corporate Authors:
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
2901 Baxter Road
Ann Arbor, MI United States 48109-2150 -
Authors:
- Reed, Matthew P
- Schneider, L W
- Publication Date: 1992-3
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Figures; Photos; References;
- Pagination: 20 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Abrasion; Air bags; Human subject testing; Image analysis; Image processing; Injuries; Injury severity; Laboratory tests; Skin friction
- Old TRIS Terms: Pressure-sensitive film; Skin abrasion
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00719355
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: UMTRI-92-6, HS-041 851
- Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Mar 4 1996 12:00AM