Pelvis fractures between the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) have been observed in frontal-crash sled tests over the last 50 years. This paper presents the methods used and results obtained from a new study aimed to replicate lap belt loading conditions from sled tests in a more controlled, isolated, belt to torso loading environment. Three whole-body Post Mortem Human Subjects (PMHS) were positioned in a posture matching that of PMHS the time of pelvis fracture from previous reclined, frontalcrash sled tests. An air powered, hydraulic-moderated, feedback-controlled test device pulled a lap belt with a displacement and force time history derived from the sled tests. Of these tests, two PMHS sustained pelvis fractures at 4300 N and 5090 N, and one submarined at 3225 N. A fourth PMHS was tested twice at sub-injurious load levels to measure the effect of belt-to-pelvis orientation on iliac wing strain distributions. The results from this study can be used to match the loading conditions from full-scale sled tests to component-level iliac wing conditions to create an injury risk function for pelvis fractures caused by lap belt loading in the region between the ASIS and AIIS.
Keywords:
Cadaver, Notch Angle, Pelvis Fracture, PMHS, Submarining