Biomechanics of seat belt design

McElhaney, James H.<sup>1</sup>; Roberts, Verne L.<sup>1</sup>; Melvin, John W.<sup>1</sup>; Shelton, William<sup>2</sup>; Hammond, Albert J.<sup>2</sup>

Affiliations

¹Highway Safety Research Institute, The University of Michigan

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of adequate criteria and evaluation methods for seat belt restraint design. These criteria should include the effect of seat belts in abdominal injury as well as head injury. It is concluded that belt load limiters and energy-absorbing devices should limit head-to-vehicle contact, ensure that the lap belt maintains proper contact with the bony pelvic girdle, and limit the belt loads. Studies are made of pulse shape and belt fabrics. Currently available mathematical models are used for the studies included in the paper.

Links

DOI: 10.4271/720972

SAE: 720972

Cited By (8)

Year	Entry
1973	McElhaney JH, Stalnaker RL, Roberts VL. Biomechanical aspects of head injury. In: King WF, Mertz HJ, eds. Human Impact Response: Measurement and Simulation. Proceedings of the Symposium on Human Impact Response held at the General Motors Research Laboratorie; October 2-3, 1972; Warren, MI. New York, NY: Plenum Press; 1973:85-112.
2002	Rouhana SW. Biomechanics of abdominal trauma. In: Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 2002:405-453.
1976	Bez U. Influence of the shape of thin-wall structures and structural elements on the dynamic behaviour of the overall passenger-vehicle system during impact. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). October 12-15, 1976; Washington, D.C.248-265.
1973	Roberts VL, McElhaney JH. Review of head injury tolerance to direct impact. In: Proceedings of the 1973 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. June 26-27, 1973; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.241-258.
1974	Schmidt G, Kallieris D, Barz J, Mattern R. Results of 49 cadaver tests simulating frontal collision of front seat passengers. In: Proceedings of the 18th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 4-5, 1974; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:283-291. SAE 741182.
2003	Rouhana SW, Bedewi PG, Kankanala SV, Prasad P, Zwolinski JJ, Meduvsky AG, Rupp JD, Jeffreys TA, Schneider LW. Biomechanics of 4-point seat belt systems in frontal impacts. Stapp Car Crash J. 2003;47:367-399. SAE 2003-22-0017.
1994	Nilson G. Effects of Seat and Seat-Belt Design on Car Occupant Response in Frontal and Rear Impacts: A Study Combining Mechanical and Mathematical Modelling [PhD thesis]. Götenburg, Sweden: Chalmers University of Technology; 1994.
2002	Lee JB. Development of a Finite Element Model of the Human Abdomen [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; 2002.