HUMAN HEAD AND NECK KINEMATICS AFTER LOW VELOCITY REAR-END IMPACTS - UNDERSTANDING "WHIPLASH"

A second series of low speed rear end crash tests with seven volunteer test subjects have delineated human head/neck dynamics for velocity changes up to 10.9 kph (6.8 mph). Angular and linear sensor data from biteblock arrays were used to compute acceleration resultants for multiple points on the head's sagittal plane. By combining these acceleration fields with film based instantaneous rotation centers, translational and rotational accelerations were defined to form a sequential acceleration history for points on the head. The findings suggest a mechanism to explain why cervical motion beyond the test subjects' measured voluntary range of motion was never observed in any of a total of 28 human test exposures. Probable "whiplash" injury mechanisms are discussed. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 882980.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1560917415
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • MCCONNEL, W E
  • Howard, R P
  • VAN POPPEL, J
  • Krause, R
  • Guzman, H M
  • BOMAR, J B
  • RADDIN, J H
  • Benedict, J V
  • HATSELL, C P
• Conference:
  • SAE PUBLICATION P-299. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 39TH STAPP CAR CRASH CONFERENCE, NOVEMBER 8-10, 1995, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USA (SAE TECHNICAL PAPER 952724)
• Publication Date: 1995-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 215-38

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceleration (Mechanics); Biophysics; Calculation; Cinematography; Conferences; Crash tests; Head; Injuries; Motion; Rear end crashes; Vertebrae
• ITRD Terms: 5405: Acceleration; 2060: Biomechanics; 6464: Calculation; 2040: Cervical vertebrae; 6752: Cinematography; 8525: Conference; 1648: Impact test (crash); 2163: Injury; 5483: Movement; 1620: Rear end collision
• Subject Areas: Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00729433
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• ISBN: 1-56091-741-5
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 26 1996 12:00AM