Pelvic responses and injuries to male post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) in rear-facing seat configurations in high-speed frontal impacts

Kang, Yun-Seok; Pradhan, Vikram; Stammen, Jason; Baker, Gretchen H.; Marcallini, Angelo; Agnew, Amanda M.; Moorhouse, Kevin; Bolte, IV, John H.

Affiliations

¹Injury Biomechanics Research Center at the Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, USA

²National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in East Liberty, OH, USA

Abstract and keywords

This study explored biomechanical responses and injuries of post-mortem human subject (PMHS) pelves with varying boundary conditions in high-speed rear-facing frontal impacts (HSRFFI). Thirteen male PMHS tests (10 PMHS from previous studies and 3 additional PMHS included) were conducted at ∆V of 56km/h and input acceleration of 37g using two recline angles (25deg and 45deg) and two reinforced seats: 1) a 2018 Honda Odyssey with All Belts To Seat (ABTS) restraint (N=3 for ABTS25, N=3 for ABTS45) and 2) a 2018 Honda Accord with Fixed D-ring (FDR) seat belt (N=4 for FDR25, N=3 for FDR45). The PMHS tested in ABTS25 did not experience any fractures, while two PMHS tested in ABTS45 sustained sacroiliac (SI) joint damage and fractures throughout the pelvis. The PMHS tested in both FDR conditions sustained SI damage and posterior ilium fractures due to seat back interaction. For FDR25, the PMHS exhibited larger forward y-angular velocities than ABTS25. Three PMHS tested in the FDR conditions sustained pubic ramus fractures due to open-book deformation from large z-angular velocities (a potential injury predictor). Two loading mechanisms were identified: 1) direct pelvis interaction with the seat back and 2) lower extremity inertial loading applied to the pelvis through the acetabulum. Seat back structures influenced y-angular velocities and x-linear acceleration, which might also affect pelvis injuries from HSRFFI.

Keywords: Injury mechanism; pelvis fracture; pelvis open-book; rear-facing; seat back structure

Links

URL: https://www.ircobi.org/wordpress/downloads/irc24/pdf-files/2430.pdf

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