Chest injuries are one of the most frequent injuries in frontal and frontal oblique car crashes, especially for the senior population due to increased physical frailty. This study was conducted to assess a seat‐ integrated, 3+2 Criss Cross (3+2 CC) seat belt system’s ability to reduce AIS2+ chest injuries compared to a seat‐ integrated three‐point seat belt. This was accomplished by quantifying the reduction of chest deflection in a numerical LS‐Dyna simulation of both the Test device for Human Occupant Restraint version 1.0 (THOR) and Autoliv Total HUman body Model for Safety (THUMS) for full frontal impact, and of the THORv1.0 only for frontal oblique impacts. The reduction of chest deflection and corresponding injury risk was then used to calculate the system’s effectiveness for the 3+2 CC seat belt to reduce the risk to the occupant of sustaining an AIS2+ chest injury. Using weighted National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS CDS) and German In‐depth Accident Study (GIDAS) data, a real world benefit estimation of reduced AIS2+ injuries was performed, assuming that the total vehicle fleet was equipped with the 3+2 CC seat belt. It was shown that 22% and 25% of all AIS2+ injuries could be prevented in the USA and Germany, respectively.
Keywords:
Chest injury, Frontal impact, Frontal oblique impact, THOR, 3+2 Criss Cross seat belt