Application and evaluation of a novel KTH injury criterion for the Hybrid III dummy in frontal crash test environments

Kirk, Kristin; Kuppa, Shashi

This paper evaluates a recently published comprehensive knee-thigh-hip (KTH) injury criterion through its application to the Hybrid III 50th percentile male (HIII-50M) and 5th percentile female (HIII-5F) dummies in frontal crash tests along with a comparison with real world KTH injury risk in frontal crashes. This criterion, developed by Rupp et al. (2009) (Rupp-KTH criterion), determines risk of injury to the hip, femur, and knee using the peak compressive femur force and impulse.

Femur load cell data from various frontal crash tests were analyzed using the Rupp-KTH criterion. The risk of KTH injuries as calculated with this criterion in the various crash conditions was compared to that observed in real world frontal crashes using the National Automotive Sampling System-Crashworthiness Data Systems (NASS-CDS) data files. The relative proportion of knee, thigh, and hip injuries predicted by the Rupp-KTH criterion was also compared to that observed in real world crashes.

The Rupp-KTH criterion predicts an overall KTH injury risk reflective of real world risk with unbelted Hybrid III dummies, but under-predicts real world injury risk for belted dummies. The proportion of hip injuries among all KTH injuries is predicted reasonably well for unbelted occupants and underpredicted for belted occupants. Dummy interaction with the knee bolster in different restraint conditions likely affects the level of agreement between predicted and observed injury risk.

This study applied injury criteria to Hybrid III dummy responses in specific crash conditions and seating configurations. Injury risk prediction may be improved with other dummy designs or crash environments.

Year

Entry

2002

Rupp JD, Reed MP, Van Ee CA, Kuppa S, Wang SC, Goulet JA, Schneider LW. The tolerance of the human hip to dynamic knee loading. Stapp Car Crash J. 2002;46:211-228. SAE 2002-22-0011.

2002

Read KM, Burgess AR, Dischinger PC, Kufera JA, Kerns TJ, Ho SM, Burch C. Psychosocial and physical factors associated with lower extremity injury. In: 46th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 30–October 2, 2002; Tempe, AZ.

2003

Rupp JD, Reed MP, Jeffreys TA, Schneider LW. Effects of hip posture on the frontal impact tolerance of the human hip joint. Stapp Car Crash J. 2003;47:21-33. SAE 2003-22-0002.

2005

Rupp JD, Reed MP, Madura NH, Miller CS, Kuppa S, Schneider LW. Comparison of the inertial response of the THOR-NT, Hybrid III, and unembalmed cadaver to simulated knee-to-knee-bolster impacts. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.

2003

Rupp JD, Reed MP, Madura NH, Schneider LW. Comparison of knee/femur force-deflection response of the THOR, Hybrid III, and human cadaver to dynamic frontal-impact knee loading. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.