Comparison of Q3s Anthropomorphic Test Device Biomechanical Responses to Pediatric Volunteers

The biofidelity of pediatric ATDs continues to be evaluated with scaled-down adult data, a methodology that makes inaccurate assumptions about the likeness of biomechanical properties of children and adults. Recently, evaluation of pediatric ATDs by comparison of pediatric volunteer (PV) data has been shown to be a valuable and practical alternative to the use of scaled adult data. This study utilized existing PV data to evaluate a 3 year-old side impact ATD, the Q3s. While ATDs have been compared to volunteer responses in frontal impacts, this study is the first to extend ATD-PV comparison methods to the Q3s ATD, and among the first to extend these methods to side impacts.

Previously conducted experiments were replicated in order to make a direct comparison between the Q3s and PVs. PV data were used from 4-7 year-olds (shoulder tests, n=14) and 6-8 year-olds (sled tests, n=7). Force-deflection data were captured during quasi-static shoulder tests through manual displacement of the shoulder joint. Resulting shoulder stiffness was compared between the Q3s and PVs. Low-speed farside sled tests were conducted with the Q3s at lateral (90°) and oblique (60°) impacts. Primary outcomes of interest included 1) lateral displacement of the torso, 2) torso rollout angle, and 3) kinematic trajectories of the head and neck.

The Q3s exhibited shoulder stiffness values at least 32 N/mm greater than the PVs for all conditions (PV muscles tensed and relaxed, deflection calculated for full- and halfthoracic). In lateral sled tests, the Q3s demonstrated increased lateral torso displacement (Q3s: 194.6 mm; PVs: 164.3 mm ± 26.6), coronal torso rollout (Q3s: 49.2°; PVs: 35.7° ± 12.4), and maximum excursions in the ∆Y and ∆Z directions for trajectories of the top of the head, C4, and T1, compared to PVs. In oblique trials, the Q3s did not exhibit significantly different lateral torso displacement or rollout, but achieved less forward ∆X motion (Q3s: 68 mm; PVs: 113 ± 17 mm) compared to PVs.

Increased Q3s ATD shoulder stiffness suggests an effect on loads seen by the Q3s head, torso, and neck during side impact. Q3s and PV trajectories were of similar shape, although Q3s head and neck kinematics displayed rigid body motion followed by independent lateral bending of the head, suggesting cervical and thoracic spine rigidity compared to PVs.

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Year

Entry

2009

Ash J, Abdelilah Y, Crandall J, Parent D, Sherwood C, Kallieris D. Comparison of anthropomorphic test dummies with a pediatric cadaver restrained by a three-point belt in frontal sled tests. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.

1969

Burdi AR, Huelke DF, Snyder RG, Lowrey GH. Infants and children in the adult world of automobile safety design: pediatric and anatomical considerations for design of child restraints. J Biomech. July 1969;2(3):267-280.

1980

McPherson GK, Kriewall TJ. The elastic modulus of fetal cranial bone: a first step towards an understanding of the biomechanics of fetal head molding. J Biomech. 1980;13(1):9-16.

2003

Mertz HJ, Irwin AL, Prasad P. Biomechanical and scaling bases for frontal and side impact injury assessment reference values. Stapp Car Crash J. 2003;47:155-188. SAE 2003-22-0009.

2007

Franklyn M, Peiris S, Huber C, Yang KH. Pediatric material properties: a review of human child and animal surrogates. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2007;35(3-4):197-342.