Kinematic and spinal column injuries in active and passive passenger protection:​ results of simulated frontal collisions

Kallieris, D.; Mattern, R.; Schmidt, Gg.; Warth, D.

A report has been made on the kinematical analysis of cadaver tests, performed on a flat car running upon rolls in two series, simulating frontal impacts with a crash velocity of 50 km/h and a mean deceleration of 20 g. The first series involved 23 test subjects, protected with three-point belts, in driver and passenger position; in the second series, 10 tests with air-bag and knee-bar protected occupants in passenger position were conducted.

Caused by the system, there is a fundamentally different kinematic of the head between the two restraint systems.

No homogeneous differences of the two restraint systems can be derived from the mean values of the investigated displacements as well as the angular velocity and the angular acceleration.

In the three-point belt tests, the injuries may be explained with anteflexion; in the air-bag knee-bar tests with retroflexion. The mean value of the injury severity of the spinal column amounts between AIS 2 and AIS 3 for the three-point belt system and amounts between AIS 1 and AIS 2 for the air-bag kneebar system.

It has been noticed that the angular acceleration does not represent a suitable parameter for the severity of the spinal column injuries with the given collision conditions and the restraint systems; the age represents a much greater influence than the kinematical magnitudes.

Year

Entry

1979

Adomeit D, Appel H. Influence of seat design on the kinematics and loadings of the belted dummy. In: Proceedings of the 1979 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 5-7, 1979; Goeteborg, Sweden.292-304.

1981

Verriest JP, Chapon A, Trauchessec R. Cinephotogrammetrical study of porcine thoracic response to belt applied load in frontal impact: comparison between living and dead subjects. In: Proceedings of the 25th Stapp Car Crash Conference. September 28-30, 1981; San Francisco, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:499-545. SAE 811015.

1982

Kallieris D, Mattern R, Schmidt G, Klaus G. Comparison of three-point belt and air bag-knee bolster systems: injury criteria and injury severity at simulated frontal collisions. In: Proceedings of the 1982 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1982; Cologne, Germany.166-183.

1982

Cheng R, Yang KH, Levine RS, King AI, Morgan R. Injuries to the cervical spine caused by a distributed frontal load to the chest. In: Proceedings of the 26th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 20-21, 1982; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:1-40. SAE 821155.

1979

Verriest JP, Chapon A. Mulltiple cinephotogrammetric deterxination of thorax deformation under belt load. In: Proceedings of the 1979 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 5-7, 1979; Goeteborg, Sweden.198-209.