Analytical investigation of driver thoracic response to out of position airbag deployment

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Plank, Gordon R.¹; Kleinberger, Michael²; Eppinger, Rolf H.²

Analytical investigation of driver thoracic response to out of position airbag deployment

Proceedings of the 42nd Stapp Car Crash Conference

Affiliations

¹Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Research and Special Programs Administration, United States Department of Transportation

²National Transportation Biomechanics Research Center, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, United States Department of Transportation
Abstract

A finite element model of the human thorax was merged with a rigid body finite element implementation of the Hybrid III dummy (after removal of the Hybrid III thorax) and the combined model is used in simulations of an out of position driver during airbag deployment. Parameters related to injury, such as A-P thorax deformation, Viscous Criterion, rib stress distribution and strain in the thoracic contents are used to quantify the thoracic injury response. Initial driver position is varied to examine the relationship between distance from the airbag module and thoracic injury risk. The potential for injury mitigation through modulation of airbag inflation after initiation is also investigated. The utility of the combined model as an effective tool for the analysis of occupant kinematics and dynamics, examination of injury mechanisms, and optimization of restraint system design parameters is demonstrated.
Links

DOI: 10.4271/983165

SAE: 983165

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2018	Gierczycka D. Investigation of Thorax Response and Potential for Injury in Side Impacts Using Integrated Detailed Human and Vehicle Finite-Element Models [PhD thesis]. Waterloo, ON: University of Waterloo; 2018.
2003	Stitzel JD. The Role of Local Material Properties in Modeling Fracture Tolerance of the Human Thorax [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; September 19, 2003.
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2007	Shah CS. Investigation of Traumatic Rupture of the Aorta (TRA) by Obtaining Aorta Material and Failure Properties and Simulating Real-World Aortic Injury Crashes Using the Whole-Body Finite Element (FE) Human Model [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; 2007.