Factors influencing occupant-to-seat belt interaction in far-side crashes

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Douglas, C. A.¹; Fildes, B. N.¹; Gibson, T. J.²; Boström, O.³; Pintar, F. A.^4,5

Factors influencing occupant-to-seat belt interaction in far-side crashes

51st Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)

Affiliations

¹Monash University Accident Research Centre, Australia

²Human Impact Engineering, Australia

³Autoliv Research, Sweden

⁴Medical College of Wisconsin

⁵VA Medical Center, U.S.A.
Abstract

Seat belt interaction with a far-side occupant’s shoulder and thorax is critical to governing excursion towards the struck-side of the vehicle in side impact. In this study, occupant-to-belt interaction was simulated using a modified MADYMO human model and finite element belts. Quasi-static tests with volunteers and dynamic sled tests with PMHS and WorldSID were used for model validation and comparison. Parameter studies were then undertaken to quantify the effect of impact direction, seat belt geometry and pretension on occupant-to-seat belt interaction.

Results suggest that lowering the D-ring and increasing pretension reduces the likelihood of the belt slipping off the shoulder. Anthropometry was also shown to influence restraint provided by the shoulder belt. Furthermore, the belt may slip off the occupant’s shoulder at impact angles greater than 40 degrees from frontal when no pretension is used. However, the addition of pretension allowed the shoulder to engage the belt in all impacts from 30 to 90 degrees.

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Cited By (13)

Year	Entry
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2013	Mathews EA, Balasubramanian S, Seacrist T, Maltese MR, Arbogast KB, Kent RW, Forman J, Higuchi K, Tanji H. Comparison of pediatric and young adult far-side head kinematics in lowspeed lateral and oblique impacts. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 27-30, 2013; Seoul, South Korea.
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2019	Holt CM. Understanding the Effects of Age and Safety Countermeasures on Occupant Kinematics in Low-Acceleration, Time-Extended Events [PhD thesis]. Drexel University; March 2019.