Investigation of airbag-induced skin abrasions

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Reed, Matthew P.¹; Schneider, Lawrence W.¹; Burney, Richard E.²

Investigation of airbag-induced skin abrasions

Proceedings of the 36th Stapp Car Crash Conference

Affiliations

¹University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

²The University of Michigan
Abstract

Static deployments of driver-side airbags into the legs of human subjects were used to investigate the effects of inflator capacity, internal airbag tethering, airbag fabric, and the distance from the module on airbag-induced skin abrasion. Abrasion mechanisms were described by measurements of airbag fabric velocity and target surface pressure. Airbag fabric kinematics resulting in three distinct abrasion patterns were identified. For all cases, abrasions were found to be caused primarily by high-velocity fabric impactrather than scraping associated with lateral fabric motion. Use of higher-capacity inflators increased abrasion severity, and untethered airbags produced more severe abrasions than tethered airbags at distances greater than the length of the tether. Abrasion severity decreased as the distance increased from 225 to 450 mm. Use of a finer-weave airbag fabric in place of a coarser-weave fabric did not decrease the severity of abrasion.
Links

DOI: 10.4271/922510

SAE: 922510

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Cited By (18)

Year	Entry
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1994	Zuppichini F, Trenchi G, Rigo C, Marigo M. Severe and fatal lesions in cars fitted with airbags: case reports. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 23-26, 1994; Munich, Germany.713-720.
1996	Prasad P, Laituri TR. Consideration for belted FMVSS 208 testing. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.389-400.
1998	Manary MA, Flannagan CAC, Reed MP, Schneider LW. Predicting proximity of driver head and thorax to the steering wheel. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.245-254.
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