The influence of seat-back and head-restraint properties on the head-neck motion during rear-impact

wbldb

Svensson, Mats Y.¹; Lövsund, Per¹; Håland, Yngve²; Larsson, Stefan³

The influence of seat-back and head-restraint properties on the head-neck motion during rear-impact

Proceedings of the 1993 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact

Affiliations

¹Dept. of Injuxy Prevention, Chalmers University of Technology, S-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden

²Electrolux Autoliv AB, P.O. Box 104. S-447 00 Vågårda, Sweden

³SAAB Automobile AB, AS-2TKAL. S-461 80 Trollhättan, Sweden
Abstract

One type of production-car front-seat with a head-restraint was tested in simulated low-velocity rear-impacts using a Hybrid III-dummy fitted with a modified neck (RID-neck). The seat was modified in various ways to test the influence of different seat properties on the head-neck motion during the impact.

The results show that it is possible to influence the head-neck kinematics to a great extent by modifying the properties of the seat-back and the head-restraint. It was possible to virtually eliminate the neck extension motion during the rear-impact and this will hopefully result in a significant decrease of the neck injury risk in real world rearimpacts.

Cited Works (21)

Year	Entry
1989	Romilly DP, Thomson RW, Navin FPD, Macnabb M. Low speed rear impacts and the elastic properties of automobiles. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 29–June 1, 1989; Göteborg, Sweden.1199-1205.
1990	Olsson I, Bunketorp O, Carlsson G, Gustafsson C, Planath I, Norin H, Ysander L. An in-depth study of neck injuries in rear end collisions. In: Proceedings of the 1990 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-14, 1990; Lyon, France.269-278.
1993	McConnell WE, Howard RP, Guzman HM, Bomar JB, Raddin JH, Benedict JV, Smith HL, Hatsell CP. Analysis of human test subject kinematic responses to low velocity rear end impacts. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-5, 1993; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:21-30. SAE 930889.
1993	Scott MW, McConnell WE, Guzman HM, Howard RP, Bomar JB, Smith HL, Benedict JV, Raddin JH, Hatsell CP. Comparison of human and ATD head kinematics during low-speed rearend impacts. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-5, 1993; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 930094.
1969	States JD, Korn MW, Masengill JB. The enigma of whiplash injuries. In: 13th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 16, 1969; Minneapolis, MN.83-108.
1986	Seemann MR, Muzzy WH III, Lustick LS. Comparison of human and Hybrid III head and neck dynamic response. In: Proceedings of the 30th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 27-29, 1986; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:291-311. SAE 861892.
1972	O'Neill B, Haddon W Jr, Kelley AB, Sorenson WW. Automobile head restraints: frequency of neck injury claims in relation to the presence of head restraints. Am J Public Health. March 1972;62(3):399-406.
1985	Carlsson G, Nilsson S, Nilsson-Ehle A, Norin H, Ysander L, Örtengren R. Neck injuries in rear end car collisions: biomechanical considerations to improve head restraints. In: Proceedings of the 1985 International IRCOBI/AAAM Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 24-26, 1985; Göteborg, Sweden.277-289.
1967	Mertz HJ Jr, Patrick LM. Investigation of the kinematics and kinetics of whiplash. In: Proceedings of the 11th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 10-11, 1967; Anaheim, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:267-317. SAE 670919.
1992	Svensson MY, Lövsund P. A dummy for rear-end collisions: development and validation of a new dummy-neck. In: Proceedings of the 1992 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 9-11, 1992; Verona, Italy.299-310.
1985	Nygren A, Gustafsson H, Tingvall C. Effects of different types of headrests in rear-end collisions. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). July 1-4, 1985; Oxford, England.85-90. SAE 856023.
1991	Foret-Bruno JY, Dauvilliers F, Tarriere C, Mack P. Influence of the seat and head rest stiffness on the risk of cervical injuries in rear impact. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 4-7, 1991; Paris, France.968-974.
1983	Nygren Å. Injuries to car occupants: some aspects of the interior safety of cars: a study of a five-year material from an insurance company. Acta Otolaryngol. 1983;95(suppl 395):1-135.
1988	Lövsund P, Nygren A, Salen B, Tingvall C. Neck injuries in rear end collisions among front and rear seat occupants. In: Proceedings of the 1988 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 14-16, 1988; Bergisch-Gladbach, West Germany.319-325.
1993	Svensson MY, Aldman B, Hansson HA, Lövsund P, Seeman T, Suneson A, Örtengren T. Pressure effects in the spinal canal during whiplash extension motion: a possible cause of injury to the cervical spinal ganglia. In: Proceedings of the 1993 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1993; Eindhoven, The Netherlands.189-200.
1969	Kihlberg JK. Flexion-torsion neck injury in rear impacts. In: 13th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 16, 1969; Minneapolis, MN.1-16.
1972	States JD, Balcerak JC, Williams JS, Morris AT, Babcock W, Polvino R, Riger P, Dawley RE. Injury frequency and head restraint effectiveness in rear-end impact accidents. In: Proceedings of the 16th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 8-10, 1972; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:228-257. SAE 720967.
1989	Otremski I, Marsh JL, Wilde BR, McLardy-Smith PD, Newman RJ. Soft tissue cervical spinal injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Injury. November 1989;20(6):349-351.
1989	Deng Y-C. Anthropomorphic dummy neck modeling and injury considerations. Accid Anal Prev. February 1989;21(1):85-100.
1993	Svensson MY, Lovsund P, Håland Y, Larsson S. Rear-end collisions: a study of the influence of backrest properties on head-neck motion using a new dummy neck. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. March 1-5, 1993; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 930343.
1975	Prasad P, Mital N, King AI, Patrick LM. Dynamic response of the spine during +gx acceleration. In: Proceedings of the 19th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1975; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:869-897. SAE 751172.

Cited By (20)

Year	Entry
1995	Parkin S, Mackay GM, Hassan AM, Graham R. Rear end collisions and seat performance: to yield or not to yield. In: 39th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 16-18, 1995; Chicago, IL.231-244.
1994	Nilson G, Svensson MY, Lövsund P, Häland Y, Wiklund K. Rear-end collisions: the effect of the seat-belt and the crash pulse on occupant motion. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 23-26, 1994; Munich, Germany.1630-1639.
1996	Morris AP, Thomas P. A study of soft tissue neck injuries in the UK. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1412-1425.
1996	Gane J, Pedder J. Head restraint measuring device. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1788-1790.
2005	Bourdet N, Willinger R. Human body-car seat coupling under rear impact. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.
2007	Voo L, McGee B, Merkle A, Kleinberger M, Kuppa S. Performance of seats with active head restraints in rear impacts. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2009	Locke G, Veine E, Merkle A, Kleinberger M, Wing I. Influence of seatback content and deflection on FMVSS 202a dynamic response. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2002	Siegmund GP, Heinrichs BE, Chimich DD, DeMarco AL, Brault JR. The effect of collision pulse properties on six proposed whiplash injury criteria. In: Proceedings of the 30th International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. November 2002; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.47-60.
1994	Jakobsson L, Norin H, Jernström C, Svensson S-E, Johnsén P, Isaksson-Hellman I, Svensson MY. Analysis of different head and neck responses in rear-end car collisions using a new human-like mathematical model. In: Proceedings of the 1994 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 1994; Lyon, France.109-125.
1994	Ryan GA, Moore VM, Dolinis J, Taylor GW. Crash severity and neck strain in car occupants. In: Proceedings of the 1994 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 1994; Lyon, France.97-107.
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.
1995	Walz FH, Muser MH. Biomechanical aspects of cervical spine injuries. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 27–March 2, 1995; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 950658.
1998	Wiklund K, Larsson H. Saab active head restraint (SAHR): seat design to reduce the risk of neck injuries in rear impacts. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 23-26, 1998; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 980297.
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.
1995	Spitzer O Walter, Skovron ML, Salmi LR, Cassidy JD, Duranceau J, Suissa S, Zeiss E. Scientific monograph of the Quebec task force on whiplash-associated disorders: redefining “whiplash” and its management. Spine. 1995;20(suppl 8):2S-73S.
2002	Kumar S, Narayan Y, Amell T. An electromyographic study of low-velocity rear-end impacts. Spine. May 15, 2002;27(10):1044-1055.
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.
2012	Carlsson A. Addressing Female Whiplash Injury Protection: A Step Towards 50th Percentile Female Rear Impact Occupant Models [PhD thesis]. Gothenburg, Sweden: Chalmers University of Technology; 2012.
2009	DeRosia JJ. Role of Gender and Size in Biomechanics of Rear Impact Marquette University; May 2009.
2006	Ivancic PC. Cervical Spine Injury During Simulated Automobile Collisions [PhD thesis]. Yale University; May 2006.