Laboratory assessment of the potential for airbag-induced skin abrasion

Sugimoto, Tomigi; Shindo, Toyohiko; Reed, Matthew

Affiliations

²The University of Michigan, United States

Abstract

Eight airbag configurations were tested using a laboratory test procedure developed to predict skin abrasion potential. Abrasion is predicted when airbag fabric impact with a pressure-sensitive film produces pressures exceeding a threshold value. The effects of airbag design parameters on the fabric velocity and abrasion predictions were investigated. For the airbag modules studied, abrasions were predicted when the airbag fabric impact velocity exceeds 50 to 70 m/s, and when the peak inflator tank-test pressure slope exceeded 160 to 180 kPa/10 ms. Differentiation of airbag modules with respect to abrasion likelihood was found to be fairly insensitive to a range of abrasion-prediction threshold values.

Cited Works (1)

Year	Entry
1991	Hollowell WT, Frey FJ. A study of the safety performance of production vehicles equipped with driver air bags in the NHTSA test programs. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 4-7, 1991; Paris, France.1047-1054.

Cited By (2)

Year	Entry
1994	Zuppichini F, Trenchi G, Rigo C, Marigo M. Unexpected deaths in airbag equipped cars: case reports. In: Advances in Occupant Restraint Technologies: Joint AAAM-IRCOBI Special Session. September 22, 1994; Lyon, France.79-94.
2002	Hurst WJ, Cormier JM, Stitzel JD, Jernigan MV, Moorcroft DM, Herring IP, Duma SM. A new methodology for investigating airbag induced skin abrasions. In: Proceedings of the 30th International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. November 2002; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.157-165.