THE INFLUENCCE OF SEATBACK CHARACTERISTICS ON CERVICAL INJURY RISK IN SEVERE REAR IMPACTS

Recent trends in automotive seat design have resulted in the introduction of stiffer and stronger seatbacks into the automotive fleet. The purpose of this paper is to examine field performance data to assess the relative risk of injury in rear end collisions and to compare seatback structural properties to injury risk in sled tests designed to simulate a high speed car-to-car rear end collision. The results of this study indicate that several descriptions of seatback behavior are poor predictors of neck loading. It also suggests that an optimum range of seatback stiffness exists and it appears to be in the mid-range of seatback stiffness available in current production vehicles. Continued investigation to examine a broader range of occupant positions and collision severities is warranted.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

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  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • BURNETT, R
  • Carter, J
  • ROBERTS, V
  • MYERS, B
• Publication Date: 2004-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 591-601
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 36
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Injuries; Injury types; Neck; Rear end crashes; Seat backs; Stiffness
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00974775
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 15 2004 12:00AM