AN INVESTIGATION OF SEAT DESIGN PARAMETERS INFLUENCING NECK LOADS IN LOW SPEED VEHICLE REAR-IMPACTS
The application of finite element methods to the analysis of occupant neck responses in rear-end vehicle crashes is presented. A finite element (FE) model of a 50th percentile Hybrid III dummy, which had been previously used for simulating frontal impact, was appropriately modified to handle rear-impact cases. The crux of these modifications was the development of a deformable FE model of the Hybrid III neck. This new neck model was correlated using data from the Amended Part 572 Head-Neck Pendulum compliance test, and finally incorporated into the Hybrid III dummy model to permit better analysis of the head-neck region. Responses of the so modified full dummy model were correlated with experimental sled test data. The FE Hybrid III rear-impact model was used within the PAM_CRASH explicit dynamic finite element code to conduct a parametric study of seat properties on the head-neck responses. Recommendations are presented for mechanical and geometrical seat properties to reduce head and neck loads in rear-impact. [A] For the covering abstract, see IRRD 896528.
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Corporate Authors:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- CHHOR, A
- SVENSSON, N L
- GRIFFITHS, M
- KJELLBERG, S
- Conference:
- Publication Date: 1996
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: References;
- Pagination: p. 1717-27
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Finite element method; Headrests; Injuries; Rear end crashes; Seats; Vertebrae
- ITRD Terms: 2040: Cervical vertebrae; 6490: Finite element method; 1399: Head restraint; 2163: Injury; 1620: Rear end collision; 1388: Seat (veh)
- Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00748531
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
- Files: ITRD, USDOT
- Created Date: May 27 1998 12:00AM