Dynamic kinematic responses of female volunteers in rear impacts and comparison to previous male volunteer tests

wbldb

Carlsson, Anna¹; Linder, Astrid²; Davidsson, Johan¹; Hell, Wolfram³; Schick, Sylvia³; Svensson, Mats¹

Dynamic kinematic responses of female volunteers in rear impacts and comparison to previous male volunteer tests

Traffic Inj Prev. 2011;12(4):347-357

©2011 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Affiliations

¹Applied Mechanics/SAFER Centre, Vehicle Safety Division, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden

²VTI, Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, Göteborg, Sweden

³Institute for Legal Medicine, Department for Biomechanics and Accident Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet LMU, Munich, Germany
Abstract and keywords

Objectives: The objective was to quantify dynamic responses of 50th percentile females in rear impacts and compare to those from similar tests with males. The results will serve as a basis for future work with models, criteria, and safety systems.

Methods: A rear impact sled test series with 8 female volunteers was performed at velocity changes of 5 and 7 km/h. The following dynamic response corridors were generated for the head, T1 (first thoracic vertebra) and head relative to T1: (1) accelerations in posterior–anterior direction, (2) horizontal and vertical displacements, (3) angular displacements for 6 females close to the 50th percentile in size. Additionally, the head-to-head restraint distance and contact time and neck injury criterion (NIC) were extracted from the data set. These data were compared to results from previously performed male volunteer tests, representing the 50th percentile male, in equivalent test conditions. T-tests were performed with the statistical significance level of .05 to quantify the significance of the parameter value differences for the males and females.

Results: At 7 km/h, the females showed 29 percent earlier head-to-head restraint contact time (p = .0072); 27 percent shorter horizontal rearward head displacement (p = .0017); 36 percent narrower head extension angle (p = .0281); and 52 percent lower NIC value (p = .0239) than the males in previous tests. This was mainly due to 35 percent shorter initial head-to-head restraint distance for the females (p = .0125). The peak head acceleration in the posterior–anterior direction was higher and occurred earlier for the females.

Conclusions: The overall result indicated differences in the dynamic response for the female and male volunteers. The results could be used in developing and evaluating a mechanical and/or mathematical average-sized female dummy model for rear impact safety assessment. These models can be used as a tool in the design of protective systems and for further development and evaluation of injury criteria.

Keywords: Whiplash; Volunteers; Crash testing; Rear impact; Sled testing
Links

DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2011.585408

PubMed: 21823943

WoS: 000294702200008
History

Received: 2010-02-06

Accepted: 2011-04-29

Online: 2011-08-8

Cited Works (44)

Year	Entry
2003	Instrumentation for impact test, I: electronic instrumentation. Society for Automotive Engineers International; December 2003. SAE J211-1.
2003	Kullgren A, Eriksson L, Boström O, Krafft M. Validation of neck injury criteria using reconstructed real-life rear-end crashes with recorded crash pulses. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
2003	Stemper BD, Yoganandan N, Pintar FA. Gender dependent cervical spine segmental kinematics during whiplash. J Biomech. September 2003;36(9):1281-1289.
2008	Linder A, Carlsson A, Svensson MY, Siegmund GP. Dynamic responses of female and male volunteers in rear impacts. Traffic Inj Prev. 2008;9(6):592-599.
2007	Kullgren A, Krafft M, Lie A, Tingvall C. The effect of whiplash protection systems in real-life crashes and their correlation to consumer crash test programmes. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
1997	Siegmund GP, King DJ, Lawrence JM, Wheeler JB, Brault JR, Smith TA. Head/neck kinematic response of human subjects in low-speed rear-end collisions. In: Proceedings of the 41st Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 13-14, 1997; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:357-385. SAE 973341.
2004	Linder A, Avery M, Kullgren A, Krafft M. Real-world rear impacts reconstructed in sled tests. In: Proceedings of the 2004 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 22-24, 2004; Graz, Austria.233-244.
1990	Maag U, Desjardins D, Bourbeau R, Laberge-Nadeau C. Seat belts and neck injuries. In: Proceedings of the 1990 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-14, 1990; Lyon, France.1-13.
2003	Krafft M, Kullgren A, Lie A, Tingvall C. The risk of whiplash injury in the rear seat compared to the front seat in rear impacts. Traffic Inj Prev. June 2003;4(2):136-40.
2000	Boström O, Fredriksson R, Håland Y, Jakobsson L, Krafft M, Lövsund P, Muser MH, Svensson MY. Comparison of car seats in low speed rear-end impacts using the BioRID dummy and the new neck injury criterion (NIC). Accid Anal Prev. March 2000;32(2):321-328.
2010	Kullgren A, Krafft M. Gender analysis on whiplash seat effectiveness: results rrom real-world crashes. In: Proceedings of the 2010 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 15-17, 2010; Hannover, Germany.17-28.
1993	Scott MW, McConnell WE, Guzman HM, Howard RP, Bomar JB, Smith HL, Benedict JV, Raddin JH, Hatsell CP. Comparison of human and ATD head kinematics during low-speed rearend impacts. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-5, 1993; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 930094.
2002	Croft AC, Haneline MT, Freeman MD. Differential occupant kinematics and forces between frontal and rear automobile impacts at low speed: evidence for a differential injury risk. In: Proceedings of the 2002 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 18-20, 2002; Munich, Germany.
1994	Szabo TJ, Welcher JB, Anderson RD, Rice MM, Ward JA, Paulo LB, Carpenter NJ. Human occupant kinematic response to low speed rear-end impacts. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 28–March 3, 1994; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 940532.
1989	Otremski I, Marsh JL, Wilde BR, McLardy-Smith PD, Newman RJ. Soft tissue cervical spinal injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Injury. November 1989;20(6):349-351.
1996	Eichberger A, Geigl BC, Moser A, Fachbach B, Steffan H, Hell W, Langwieder K. Comparison of different car seats regarding head-neck kinematics of volunteers during rear end impact. In: Proceedings of the 1996 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 11-13, 1996; Dublin, Ireland.153-164.
2000	Chapline JF, Ferguson SA, Lillis RP, Lund AK, Williams AF. Neck pain and head restraint position relative to the driver’s head in rear-end collisions. Accid Anal Prev. March 2000;32(2):287-297.
1997	Minton R, Murray P, Pitcher M, Galasko CSB. Causative factors in whiplash injury: implications for current seat and head restraint design. In: Proceedings of the 1997 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 24-26, 1997; Hannover, Germany.207-222.
2001	Welsh R, Lenard J. Male and female car drivers: differences in collision and injury risks. In: 45th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 24-26, 2001; San Antonio, TX.
2000	Watanabe Y, Ichikawa H, Kayama O, Ono K, Kaneoka K, Inami S. Influence of seat characteristics on occupant motion in low-speed rear impacts. Accid Anal Prev. March 2000;32(2):243-250.
2003	Viano DC. Seat influences on female neck responses in rear crashes: a reason why women have higher whiplash rates. Traffic Inj Prev. 2003;4(3):228-239.
1985	Nygren A, Gustafsson H, Tingvall C. Effects of different types of headrests in rear-end collisions. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). July 1-4, 1985; Oxford, England.85-90. SAE 856023.
2010	Carlsson A, Siegmund GP, Linder A, Svensson M. Motion of the head and neck of female and male volunteers in rear impact car-to-car tests at 4 and 8 km/h. In: Proceedings of the 2010 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 15-17, 2010; Hannover, Germany.29-39.
2001	Welcher JB, Szabo TJ. Relationships between seat properties and human subject kinematics in rear impact tests. Accid Anal Prev. May 2001;33(3):289-304.
1982	Thomas C, Faverjon G, Hartemann F, Tarriere C, Patel A, Got C. Protection against rear-end accidents. In: Proceedings of the 1982 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1982; Cologne, Germany.17-29.
2002	Krafft M, Kullgren A, Ydenius A, Tingvall C. Influence of crash pulse characteristics on whiplash associated disorders in rear impacts: crash recording in real life crashes. Traffic Inj Prev. 2002;3(2):141-149.
1983	Robbins DH. Anthropometric Specifications for Mid-Sized Male Dummy, Volume 2. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Traffic Research Institute (UMTRI); December 1983. UMTRI Publication UMTRI-83-53-2.
2003	Farmer CM, Wells JK, Lund AK. Effects of head restraint and seat redesign on neck injury risk in rear-end crashes. Traffic Inj Prev. 2003;4(2):83-90.
1969	Kihlberg JK. Flexion-torsion neck injury in rear impacts. In: 13th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 16, 1969; Minneapolis, MN.1-16.
1997	Dolinis J. Risk factors for "whiplash" in drivers: a cohort study of rear-end traffic crashes. Injury. April 1997;28(3):173-179.
2002	Philippens M, Cappon H, Van Ratingen M, Wismans J, Svensson M, Sirey F, Ono K, Nishimoto N, Matsuoka F. Comparison of the rear impact biofidelity of BioRID II and RID2. Stapp Car Crash J. 2002;46:461-476. SAE 2002-22-0023.
1972	States JD, Balcerak JC, Williams JS, Morris AT, Babcock W, Polvino R, Riger P, Dawley RE. Injury frequency and head restraint effectiveness in rear-end impact accidents. In: Proceedings of the 16th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 8-10, 1972; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:228-257. SAE 720967.
2000	Richter M, Otte D, Pohlemann T, Krettek C, Blauth M. Whiplash-type neck distortion in restrained car drivers: frequency, causes and long-term results. Eur Spine J. April 2000;9(2):109-117.
2006	Ono K, Ejima S, Suzuki Y, Kaneoka K, Fukushima M, Ujihashi S. Prediction of neck injury risk based on the analysis of localized cervical vertebral motion of human volunteers during low-speed rear impacts. In: Proceedings of the 2006 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 20-22, 2006; Madrid, Spain.103-113.
1996	Boström O, Svensson MY, Aldman B, Hansson HA, Håland Y, Lövsund P, Seeman T, Suneson A, Säljö A, Örtengren T. A new neck injury criterion candidate based on injury findings in the cervical spinal ganglia after experimental neck extension trauma. In: Proceedings of the 1996 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 11-13, 1996; Dublin, Ireland.123-136.
2008	Vasavada AN, Danaraj J, Siegmund GP. Head and neck anthropometry, vertebral geometry and neck strength in height-matched men and women. J Biomech. 2008;41(1):114-121.
1996	Morris AP, Thomas P. Neck injuries in the UK co-operative crash injury study. In: Proceedings of the 40th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 4-6, 1996; Albuquerque, NM. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:317-329. SAE 962433.
1999	Davidsson J, Flogård A, Lörvsund P, Svensson MY. BioRID P3: design and performance compared to Hybrid Iii and volunteers in rear impacts of ΔV=7 km/h. In: Proceedings of the 43rd Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 25-27, 1999; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:253-265. SAE 99SC16.
1998	Krafft M. A comparison of short- and long-term consequences of AIS 1 neck injuries, in rear impacts. In: Proceedings of the 1998 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 16-18, 1998; Göteberg, Sweden.235-248.
1999	Hell W, Langwieder K, Walz F, Muser M, Kramer M, Hartwig E. Consequences for seat design due to rear end accident analysis, sled tests and possible test criteria for reducing cervical spine injuries after rear-end collision. In: Proceedings of the 1999 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 23-24, 1999; Sitges, Spain.243-259.
2004	Jakobsson L, Norin H, Svensson MY. Parameters influencing AIS 1 neck injury outcome in frontal impacts. Traffic Inj Prev. 2004;5(2):156-163.
1972	O'Neill B, Haddon W Jr, Kelley AB, Sorenson WW. Automobile head restraints: frequency of neck injury claims in relation to the presence of head restraints. Am J Public Health. March 1972;62(3):399-406.
1993	Svensson MY, Lovsund P, Håland Y, Larsson S. Rear-end collisions: a study of the influence of backrest properties on head-neck motion using a new dummy neck. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-5, 1993; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 930343.
1998	Temming J, Zobel R. Frequency and risk of cervical spine distortion injuries in passenger car accidents: significance of human factors data. In: Proceedings of the 1998 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 16-18, 1998; Göteberg, Sweden.219-233.

Cited By (11)

Year	Entry
2013	Lemmen P, Gupta A, Lakshminarayana A, Carlsson A, Svensson M, Schmitt K-U, Levallois I, Linder A, Tomasch E. Seat optimisation considering reduction of neck injuries for female and male occupants: applications of the EvaRID model and a loading device representing a 50th percentile female. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 27-30, 2013; Seoul, South Korea.
2012	Carlsson A, Chang F, Lemmen P, Kullgren A, Schmitt K, Linder A, Svensson MY. EvaRID: a 50th percentile female rear impact finite element dummy model. In: Proceedings of the 2012 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 12-14, 2012; Dublin, Ireland.249-262.
2013	Parenteau CS, Zuby D, Brolin KB, Svensson MY, Palmertz C, Wang SC. Restrained male and female occupants in frontal crashes: are we different? In: Proceedings of the 2013 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 11-13, 2013; Gothenburg, Sweden.803-817.
2014	Gutsche AJ, Tomasch E, Darok M, Sinz W, Ciglaric I, Ravnik D, Steffan H. Comparison of the cervical spine bony kinematics for female PMHS with the virtual EvaRID dummy under whiplash loading. In: Proceedings of the 2014 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 10-12, 2014; Berlin, Germany.250-267.
2015	Kitagawa Y, Yamada K, Motojima H, Yasuki T. Consideration on gender difference of whiplash associated disorder in low speed rear impact. In: Proceedings of the 2015 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 9-11, 2015; Lyon, France.233-245.
2015	Sato F, Nakajima T, Ono K, Svensson M, Kaneoka K. Characteristics of dynamic cervical vertebral kinematics for female and male volunteers in low‐speed rear impact, based on quasi‐static neck kinematics. In: Proceedings of the 2015 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 9-11, 2015; Lyon, France.261-277.
2017	Cutcliffe HC, Ólafsdόttir JM, Ӧsth J, Davidsson J, Brolin K. Gender differences in occupant posture during driving and riding. In: Proceedings of the 2017 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 13-15, 2017; Antwerp, Belgium.23-33.
2017	John JD, Yoganandan N, Arun MWJ, Kumar GS. Sagittal curvature and vertebra axial geometry effects on cervical spine global and local responses. In: Proceedings of the 2017 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 13-15, 2017; Antwerp, Belgium.652-653.
2022	Genzel J, Carlsson A, Linder A, Pipkorn B, Svensson M. An open-source finite element model of a generic car seat: development and validation for low-severity rear impact evaluations. In: Proceedings of the 2022 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 14-16, 2022; Porto, Portugal.229-242.
2022	Chan H, Albert DL, Gayzik FS, Kemper AR. Occupant kinematics of braced 5th percentile female and 50th percentile male volunteers in low-speed frontal and frontal-oblique sled tests. In: Proceedings of the 2022 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 14-16, 2022; Porto, Portugal.771-792.
2022	Pugazhenthi KS, Jebaseelan DD, Purushothaman Y, Ramasami S, Yoganandan N. Fluid structural interaction studies of cervical disc for whiplash loading. In: Proceedings of the 2022 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 14-16, 2022; Porto, Portugal.888-889.