The development of an injury cost function for child passenger safety

Sherwood, Chris; Marshall, Rob; Crandall, Jeff

Affiliations

¹University of Virginia, U.S.A.

Abstract

The design of the optimal child restraint environment must consider both vehicle system (VS) and child restraint system (CRS) components. The objective of this study was to analyze the contributions from each system using a computer simulation of a rear facing (RF) child restraint involved in frontal crash. A parametric study of the material characteristics of components in each system was performed, resulting in a total of 625 simulations. The results of each simulation were compared using a single Cost Function score based on head acceleration, neck tension, and chest acceleration values. This Cost Function was developed based on injury risk curves combined with monetary cost estimates of these injuries. The analysis found that the vehicle seat cushion, lower LATCH belt, and internal CRS cushion should be designed with higher stiffness values, while the internal harness should be made more compliant. Neck tension was the primary contributor to the total cost function.

Links

URL: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv20/07-0127-W.pdf

Cited Works (4)

Year	Entry
2004	Sherwood CP, Abdelilah Y, Crandall JR, Stevens SL, Saggese JM, Eichelberger MR. The performance of various rear facing child restraint systems in a frontal crash. In: 48th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 13-15, 2004; Key Biscayne, FL.303-321.
1999	Eppinger R, Sun E, Bandak F, Haffner M, Khaewpong N, Maltese M, Kuppa S, Nguyen T, Takhounts E, Tannous R, Zhang A, Saul R. Development of Improved Injury Criteria for the Assessment of Advanced Automotive Restraint Systems - II. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); November 1999.
2005	Arbogast KB, Jermakian JS, Ghati Y, Smith R, Maltese MR, Menon RA. Predictors and patterns of pediatric head injury in motor vehicle crashes. In: Proceedings of the 2005 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 2005; Prague, Czech Republic.15-27.
2001	Miller T, Romano E, Zaloshnja E, Spicer R. Harm 2000: crash cost and consequence data for the new millennium. In: 45th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 24-26, 2001; San Antonio, TX.