An investigation of seat design parameters influencing neck loads in low speed vehicle rear-impacts

Chhor, Allen; Svensson, Noel L.; Griffiths, Michael; Kjellberg, Stefan

Affiliations

³Pacific Engineering Systems International

Abstract

The application of finite element methods to the analysis of occupant neck responses in rear-end vehicle crashes is presented. A finite element (FE) model of a 50th percentile Hybrid III dummy, which had been previously used for simulating frontal impact, was appropriately modified to handle rear-impact cases. The crux of these modifications was the development of a deformable FE model of the Hybrid III neck. This new neck model was correlated using data from the Amended Part 572 Head-Neck Pendulum compliance test, and finally incorporated into the Hybrid III dummy model to permit better analysis of the head-neck region. Responses of the so modified full dummy model were correlated with experimental sled test data.

The FE Hybrid III rear-impact model was used Within the PAM_CRASH explicit dynamic finite element code to conduct a parametric study of seat properties on the head-neck responses. Recommendations are presented for mechanical and geometrical seat properties to reduce head and neck loads in rear-impact.

Cited Works (3)

Year	Entry
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Cited By (3)

Year	Entry
2002	Szabo TJ, Voss DP, Welcher JB. Influence of seat foam and geometrical properties on biorid p3 kinematic response to rear impacts. In: Proceedings of the 2002 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 18-20, 2002; Munich, Germany.
2004	Sendur P, Thibodeau R, Burge J, Tencer A. Parametric analysis of vehicle design influence on the four phases of whiplash motion. In: Proceedings of the 2004 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 22-24, 2004; Graz, Austria.257-268.
2001	Welcher JB, Szabo TJ. Relationships between seat properties and human subject kinematics in rear impact tests. Accid Anal Prev. May 2001;33(3):289-304.