Browse Topic: Head injuries

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The Effects of Small Seat Swiveling Angles on Occupant Responses during a Frontal Impact2020-01-05714/14/2020
In highly automated vehicles (HAVs), new seat configurations may be desirable to allow occupants to perform new activities. One of the current HAV concepts is the swiveled seat layout, which might facilitate communication between occupants. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of seat swiveling angles on occupant kinematics and injury risk predicted by a Human Body Model (HBM) during a frontal impact. A detailed 50th percentile male HBM (GHBMC M50-O) was subjected to two frontal crash pulses in a sled setup. The model was positioned on a semi-rigid seat and restrained using a pre-inflated airbag and a three-point seatbelt. Simulations included four seat swiveling angles (0, -10, -20, and -30 degrees), three occupant positions (Sedan driver, large VAN driver or Laptop user), two airbag initial locations (nominal or matching the head Y location), and the inclusion of lateral supports on the seat pan. The effects of the seat swiveling angle were similar for all occupant positions. With the airbag in the nominal location, higher seat swiveling angles led to a higher head lateral displacement and a higher risk of head injury, especially for the BrIC criterion. The Sedan driver position had higher BrIC and a larger head lateral excursion than the other two positions. This could be mitigated by aligning the airbag location with the head. Pelvic fractures were also predicted for the configurations with the highest swiveling angles. These fractures were limited by the use of seat pan lateral supports. Overall, the model responses were sensitive to both seating configurations and occupant postures, and the results suggest that swiveled seating may increase the injury risk, especially for the head and pelvis. However, simple countermeasures, such as adapted airbag location or adding lateral seat pan supports, seemed possible to mitigate the risk.
Grébonval, Cyrille, Trosseille, Xavier, Petit, Philippe, Wang, Xuguang, Beillas, Philippe
Passenger Injury Analysis Considering Vehicle Crash after AEB Activation2019-22-00233/31/2020
Owing to an increasing autonomous emergency braking (AEB) adoption, emergency braking before crash occurs more often than in the case of conventional vehicles. Due to the sudden deceleration in AEB activation, passengers move forward before the crash. To explore how this forward movement affects passenger injury, sled tests are performed with an inclined dummy representing forward displacement. The test shows that a shorter distance between the airbag and passenger results in bigger neck injuries induced by airbag deployment force. A countermeasure is suggested to prevent neck injury in emergency braking situation by reducing deployment force and protrusion.
Ko, Seokhoon, Jeong, Garam, Kim, Dohyung, Park, Haekwon, Lee, Kyusang, Jang, Raeick
New Solution to Elderly Falls: Drones, Smartphones and SensorsTBMG-361543/1/2020
A new system has been designed by a team of researchers from Iraq and the University of South Australia to remotely monitor elderly people, detecting abnormalities in their heart rate and temperature that can lead to falls, and provide urgent first aid via a drone if a fall occurs.
Safer Helmets Reduce Potential for Traumatic InjuryTBMG-360072/1/2020
“Seventy-five percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents globally involve brain injury, with rotational forces acting on the brain being the primary cause of death,” According to NHTSA. By implementing a novel helmet design and materials set, KIRSH Helmets is to working to develop a more effective helmet for motorcycle riders, as well as in other applications. A patented design, in which fluid displacement technology replaces the typically used foam compression, utilizes a silicone liner injected with fluid. The resulting structure reduces rotational and angular forces during acceleration impacts.
5 Ws of Microlattice Pads for Improved HelmetsTBMG-359842/1/2020
Football players and other athletes, motorcycle riders, soldiers, and anyone wearing protective helmets made with the new microlattice pads will have greater protection from both single hits and a series of impacts.
Material Characterization of Extruded Aluminum Axial Tubes as Energy-Absorbing Structural Members05-13-01-000411/21/2019
Abstract The increasing use of aluminum alloy extrusion in automotive vehicle chassis as structural members has necessitated the need to investigate their crushing behaviors. This article experimentally examines in detail, for the first time with respect to strength, ductility, and microstructure, AA6063-T7 (overaged) condition and the standard T6 temper and their capacity to meet crashworthiness requirements. Both tempers were assessed based on their mechanical properties (strength, ductility, true stress/strain behavior to necking, plastic anisotropy, strain rate sensitivity, and post-instability ductility to fracture) and microstructure, which were determined using basic tensile testing methods and metallographic approach. The implications of these properties/microstructures were further assessed experimentally by investigating the crushing behavior and energy absorption capacities of two extruded geometric profiles: a general rectangular profile and a novel cross-shaped profile investigated in a previous study. Typical modes of collapse were observed for rectangular tubes. In the case of the cross-shaped tubes, geometric modifications in the form of horizontal grooves along the sidewalls were introduced to promote controlled, stable, and repeatable folding patterns during the collapse in addition to serving as peak force reducers. It was concluded that the basic tensile test data recorded up to the point of necking failed to describe accurately the performances of both tempers (T6 and T7) of AA6063 alloy. The post-instability data of the alloys served as a better predictor of material behavior in assessing the crashworthiness of tubes under axial compression. Furthermore, novel cross-shaped tubes outperformed conventional rectangular shaped tubes and showed tremendous potential as energy-absorbing members for applications where weight savings is desired by using aluminum alloys over steel alloys.
Ali, Muhammad, Ohioma, Eboreime, Kraft, Frank, Jenson, Sean
Honda ready with new injury-reducing airbag19AUTP10_0810/1/2019
Starting next year, Honda will begin fitting vehicles with a new, advanced-design passenger-side front airbag that its engineers said is designed to mitigate brain and neck injuries by cradling the head like a baseball in a catcher's mitt. The design is particularly effective, Honda said, for angled impacts or when an occupant is not in optimal position when the crash occurs, reducing rotational acceleration of the head that can traumatize the brain. More than half of all impacts occur at some angle, said Eric Heitkamp, Honda R&D Americas technical leader/principal engineer, crashworthiness, at a media reveal of the new airbag at the company's safety research facility in Raymond, Ohio. Heitkamp said the airbag was developed by the facility's engineers in partnership with restraints supplier Autoliv.
Visnic, Bill
Parametric Analysis and Optimization of Variables Affecting the Brain Injury Criterion (BrIC) in Various Crash Scenarios09-07-01-00058/19/2019
Incompressibility of the brain makes it susceptible to damage from shear strains. Head rotational motion can easily produce high shear strains causing brain injury. Since head injury criterion (HIC) does not account for rotational motion, a brain injury criterion (BrIC) was developed. To design potential countermeasures for reducing BrIC, it is important to investigate the parameters that influence BrIC. This article focuses on parametric analysis to examine the sensitivity of BrIC to vehicle design and crash-related parameters, and identifying important parameters which can be controlled in developing countermeasures for reducing BrIC. Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) 50th percentile male simplified human finite element (FE) model was used in this study. Four different analyses were conducted: a Design of Experiments (DOE) study to investigate sensitivity of BrIC to impact direction and crash pulse severity b DOE studies, with fixed crash severity, for frontal, far side oblique, and near side oblique crash modes to identify important vehicle design parameters influencing BrIC c Optimization for frontal, far side oblique, and near side oblique crash modes to minimize BrIC using important parameters (identified from step b) as design variables d Investigate greater frontal airbag coverage as a possible countermeasure. The results demonstrated that a BrIC was most sensitive to principal direction of force (PDOF) and crash pulse severity b With fixed crash severity, the important vehicle design parameters affecting BrIC were the frontal airbag parameters (mass flow rate (MFR), firing time, friction), belt load limiter, and side airbag friction c Low BrIC values could be attained for each crash mode with the highest optimized BrIC of 0.59 for the far side driver oblique crash mode (representing 1.67% risk of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 4+ brain injury), and under 0.5 (representing 0% risk of AIS 4+ brain injury) for the full-frontal and near side driver oblique crash modes; d Significant reduction in BrIC values was possible with increased frontal airbag coverage.
Hasija, Vikas, Takhounts, Erik G., Craig, Matthew J.
Synthetic Speech Generated from Brain RecordingsTBMG-345676/1/2019
A state-of-the-art brain-machine interface created by UC San Francisco neuroscientists can generate natural-sounding synthetic speech by using brain activity to control a virtual vocal tract — an anatomically detailed computer simulation including the lips, jaw, tongue and larynx.
Ultraminiature MEMS Sensors for Improved Patient OutcomesTBMG-344395/1/2019
Ultraminiature sensors (<1 mm in size) enable instrumentation of medical devices in order to advance monitoring capabilities, deliver new insight into complex cardiovascular cases, and optimize targeted treatment therapies. These high-performance medically proven sensors can advance medical devices with real-time monitoring capabilities with less invasive access and more reliable results. Whether integrated directly into an existing medical device or added to a complementary delivery system or procedural accessory, ultraminiature sensors can enable new revenue streams by increasing reimbursement opportunities or adding a new component to an existing sales channel.
Residual Injury Situation and Accident Characteristics of Severe Motorcycle Accidents2019-01-06384/2/2019
The total number of persons severely and fatally injured in road traffic accidents has reduced considerably in recent decades. However, the number of motorcyclists involved in accidents has not reduced to the same extent, and some countries have even recorded an increase. The aim of this study is to analyse the circumstances of motorcycle accidents in Germany involving vehicles with a cubic capacity of over 125 cm3 with particular reference to severely or fatally injured riders. An analysis is to be made of the characteristics and patterns of injuries suffered by the most severely injured motorcyclists and proposals developed for injury prevention. The study included accident data from 464 motorcycle accidents collected in Hanover and Dresden between 2010 and 2015 by an academic research team in the course of the GIDAS project (German In-Depth Accident Study). This data represents a statistically representative sample from real accidents occurring in Germany. The analysis of the current injury situation shows that motorcyclists are often severely injured, i.e. suffered injuries of grade MAIS 3+ (so called serious injuries) in 16.9% of cases and thus around 9 times more frequently than car occupants. Motorcyclists wearing helmets suffered head injuries in approx. 20 % of cases. The serious injuries sustained were in particular skull fractures, including base of the skull and traumatic brain injuries are rare. Severe thoracic injuries included in particular rib and shoulder/clavicle fractures, often accompanied by injuries to internal organs. In terms of spinal injuries, the most common serious injuries were fractures of the thoracic spine, followed by fractures of the lumbar spine and cervical spine. In the abdominal area there were often severe injuries in the form of fractures in the pelvic area and accompanying injuries to internal organs. Arm injuries included, besides minor injuries (grazes, bruises, etc.), most commonly fractures of the hands/fingers and forearms, followed by elbow and upper arm fractures. Leg injuries seen in particular were femoral fractures as well as injuries to the muscles and tendons around the knee, also fractures of the shin and calf bones. Around the feet there were many fractures and dislocations of the wrist and ankle joints, as well as toes. The causes of the injuries, which were recorded in detail in the study for the various regions of the body and individual injuries, were most often caused by impact with the road and collision with objects and solid vehicle structural elements of cars and trucks. Serious injuries are linked with high energy respectively high relative impact speed.
Otte, Dietmar
A Software Tool for Injury Analysis of Blast and Crash Data2019-01-12254/2/2019
In recent years the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has been investigating the survivability and injury mechanisms of underbody blast and crash, and their effects on personnel, with the use of Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATD), or crash test dummies. Injury Assessment Reference Values (IARV) for crash have been researched for decades, and the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL), some years ago, also developed IARVs for underbody blast for the Hybrid III 50th percentile ATD. More recently, TARDEC extended these IARVs for the 5th and 95th percentile. With the advent of TARDEC’s Occupant Protection Laboratory large amounts of data were accumulated, which brought an interest in automating the analysis, and so a software tool was developed. The interactive in-house written software, called ICalc, allows the user to open test data files acquired from blast testing, drop tower testing, and crash testing. Data can be automatically bias corrected (zeroed), filtered, and graphed with pertinent IARV functions automatically applied. Data from multiple sensor channels and multiple files may be graphed together for comparison and analysis. Besides being used interactively, the application can run “scripts” to graph a complete data test series automatically with the pertinent IARVs applied, along with calculated velocities and displacements for acceleration channels. A report document can be generated consisting of all accompanying graphs with an IARV summary table and bar chart showing percentage of injury for each data channel. The time to process the data and produce a report has been reduced from hours to minutes. The software is scheduled to be released under the open code software license agreement in early 2019.
Bryk, Darryl, Foster, Craig
Computational and Experimental Analysis of Head Injury Criteria (HIC) in Frontal Collision of Car with Pedestrian2019-26-00161/9/2019
Road accident between pedestrian and motor vehicle causes severe injuries and even death of pedestrian. The accident statistics show that the possibility of injury to pedestrian is higher in case of collision with car on busy roads. In car and pedestrian collisions, the pedestrian’s head hits with car bonnet and suffer from multiple injuries such as skull fractures and brain injury. The role of car bonnet structural strength plays an important role in pedestrian head injury level. To provide enough structural strength the high bonnet thickness is provided with under bonnet stiffeners, however thick bonnet and stiffeners reduces deformation of the bonnet during collision and increases injury level to pedestrian. Hence optimum bonnet thickness, least number and geometry of stiffeners and enough structural strength is important for bonnet to reduce injury level. The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of car bonnet thickness, number and arrangement of under bonnet stiffeners on head injury levels with the help of head injury criteria (HIC). Head Injury Criteria (HIC) is a measure of the likelihood of head injury arising from an impact during a car crash. It indicatesthe level of injury caused during a particular crash. A typical modern car bonnet is selected for investigation with variety of bonnet material thickness and different configurations of under bonnet stiffeners and head injury criteria (HIC) is computed with the help of computer modelling. Further, head linear velocity, acceleration and head injury risk are predicted for probability of skull fracture. The geometry of bonnet is optimized with the help of optimization technique and optimized bonnet geometry is validated experimentally by designing a bonnet test facility and head form imparter.
Thombare, Dr. Dhananjay G
An Analytical Approach to Derive Free Package Space Requirement for Pedestrian Head Form2019-26-00131/9/2019
Pedestrians are a vulnerable road user group, comprising 22% of global road traffic deaths [1]. In Japan, pedestrian fatalities accounted for 28% of total road fatalities and approximately 16% in Australia. These figures compare with 13% for the USA and 40-50% for India and Thailand [2]. Various pedestrian safety requirements are mandated in different markets in recent years worldwide. For pedestrian head-form, vehicle front-end styling and the free package space below bonnet plays a vital role in deciding the pedestrian head-form safety performance. Currently during initial phase of vehicle development, the free package space requirement is decided based on benchmark data. However, the benchmarking data does not give any insight into the physics involved and is subjective in nature as it varies from vehicle to vehicle. This paper gives an analytical approach for defining the free package space requirements for meeting the targeted pedestrian head form performance requirements. The analytically derived Head Injury Criteria Vs package space is also compared with physical test results. Using analytical approach, an ideal two-step Head-form decelerations waveform is also derived for effective use of available free package space. This information will be very useful for development of pedestrian performance requirements.
Daphal, Pratap, Mahapatre, Ashish
High-Speed Biplane X-Ray Head Impact Experiments in the Göttingen MinipigSC18-22-000111/12/2018
in vivo
McNeil, Elizabeth, Hermundstad, Amy, VandeVord, Pamela, Hardy, Warren
Quantum Dots Monitor Brain ActivityTBMG-3326311/1/2018
Luminescent quantum dots are finding new and exciting applications in current nano-science research, including improved solar energy collectors, LEDs, and quantum computers. A recent thrust from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Nanoscience Institute is focused on applying them as tools for neuroscience, opening the doors for a new way to observe brain activity and its functions.
Handheld Probe Images Photoreceptors in ChildrenTBMG-3324711/1/2018
Duke University researchers have developed a handheld probe that can image individual photoreceptors in the eyes of infants. The technology, based on adaptive optics, will make it easier for physicians and scientists to observe these cells to diagnosis eye diseases and make early detection of brain-related diseases and trauma.
Impact Characteristics of Seat Back Mounted IFE Monitors - Basis for ARP6330AIR6908 (Current)9/13/2018
This document provides background information, rationale, and data (both physical testing and computer simulations) used in defining the component test methods and similarity criteria described in SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 6330. ARP6330 defines multiple test methods uses to assess the effect of seat back mounted IFE monitor changes on blunt trauma to the head and post-impact sharp edge generation. The data generated is based on seat and IFE components installed on type A-T (transport airplane) certified aircraft. While not within the scope of ARP6330, generated test data for the possible future development of surrogate target evaluation methods is also included.
Aircraft SEAT Committee
Methods to Evaluate Impact Characteristics of Seat Back Mounted IFE MonitorsARP6330 (Current)9/13/2018
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) defines means to assess the effect of changes to seat back mounted IFE monitors on blunt trauma to the head and post-impact sharp edges. The assessment methods described may be used for evaluation of changes to seat back monitor delethalization (blunt trauma and post-test sharp edges) and head injury criterion (HIC) attributes (refer to ARP6448 Appendix A Items 3 and 6, respectively). Application is focused on type A-T (transport airplane) certified seat installations.
Aircraft SEAT Committee
Portable Brain Imaging SystemTBMG-324888/1/2018
Currently, concussion is measured by the symptoms someone experiences, but it is difficult to know what is happening in the brain in any one person. To address this problem, a portable brain imaging system was developed that uses light to detect and monitor damage in the brain from concussion. The device, a Near-Infrared Spectroscope, measures communication in the brain by measuring oxygen levels. When the brain is working well, major regions on each side of the brain are communicating and have similar patterns of blood flow and oxygen levels in blood. Researchers measure the changes in blood oxygen levels as a marker of brain function. Results show that these patterns change after concussion.
Inter-Laboratory Combat Helmet Blunt Impact Test Method ComparisonTBMG-327268/1/2018
As the medical community learns more about brain injury, the importance of blunt impact mitigation becomes more apparent. As such, it is critical to make sure that research labs are not only capable of performing testing in this field, but also show inter-laboratory consistency and reproducibility. This study is a comparison between the two validated blunt impact testing labs (Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) and National Technical Systems (NTS) Chesapeake Testing Services (CTS)), and Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC).
Advances in Nano-Therapeutics: Spotlight on Cerium OxideTBMG-297447/1/2018
For decades, the pharmaceutical industry has focused its drug-development strategies around the use of organic or biologically derived compounds. Among numerous successes are also a multitude of failed drug products due to a variety of factors including solubility, stability, biopersistence, and undesired secondary or “off-target” effects. However, in recent years, advances in the study of the therapeutic effects of inorganic compounds, particularly at the nanoscale level, have opened new and exciting avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Force Sensing — An Addition to the Physical Therapy ToolboxTBMG-290086/1/2018
Undergoing treatment for a physical injury or condition can be a long and frustrating experience. Broken bones, sprains, torn muscles or ligaments, as well as painful conditions that have developed over time, like carpal tunnel syndrome, need customized treatments. Physical therapists could benefit from a measurement-based approach to retraining patients for proper movement and mechanics.
Non-Invasive Intracranial Pressure MeasurementTBMG-290366/1/2018
An acknowledged objective of critical-care medicine is a timely, accurate, readily deployable, cost-effective, and, importantly, safe means of assessing and/or monitoring critical aspects/parameters of patient condition such as intracranial pressure (ICP). However, ICP monitoring is complicated by a large set of variables related to the patients themselves — presented symptoms, circumstances, and related information indicating such measurement, and relevant accompanying issues. These conditions and the various combinations thereof present attending physicians with the choice of many alternatives regarding key parameters including, but not limited to urgency, availability, appropriability, and accuracy to a minimum standard. Cost, complexity, ease-of-use, and other issues are also meaningful factors, but the bottom line for any of the various technical approaches, whether invasive or noninvasive, is performance. Key to this technology is its capability to correlate closely with established tympanic membrane displacement (TMD) ICP monitoring technology.
An Exploration of Jute-Polyester Composite for Vehicle Head Impact Safety Countermeasures2018-01-08444/3/2018
Natural fiber-reinforced composites are currently gaining increasing attention as potential substitutes to pervasive synthetic fiber-reinforced composites, particularly glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP). The advantages of the former category of composites include (a) being conducive to occupational health and safety during fabrication of parts as well as handling as compared to GFRP, (b) economy especially when compared to carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRC), (c) biodegradability of fibers, and (d) aesthetic appeal. Jute fibers are especially relevant in this context as jute fabric has a consistent supply base with reliable mechanical properties. Recent studies have shown that components such as tubes and plates made of jute-polyester (JP) composites can have competitive performance under impact loading when compared with similar GFRP-based structures. Drawing from this potential, the current study utilizes a combination of testing and CAE (computer-aided engineering) to demonstrate that trims made of jute composite can be effective countermeasures for vehicle upper interior head impact safety protection. To this end, a methodical approach is adopted according to which results obtained from tensile, compressive, and three-point bending tests for specimens extracted from a seven-ply jute laminate are initially utilized for validation of constitutive modeling of the said composite in LS-DYNA, which is then followed by CAE-based assessment of head impact performance of jute composite trim attached to an A-pillar component. A previously validated finite element model of a featureless Hybrid III headform has been used. The results obtained here indicate that HIC(d) (Head Injury Criterion (dummy)) values well below 1000 can be obtained underlining the potential of jute composite as an effective material for vehicle interior trim conforming to the extended FMVSS 201 requirement in the United States.
Shivakumar, Karthika, Deb, Anindya, Chou, Clifford C.
Ground Landing Mechanisms in Vehicle-To-Pedestrian Impacts Based on Accident Video Records2018-01-10444/3/2018
Accident data have shown that the pedestrian injuries resulting from contact with the ground are serious and may even be worse than the injuries resulting from the primary contact with the vehicle. The landing mechanisms, including the pedestrian trajectory and subsequent sequential body region contacts to the ground, are the basis for understanding the ground impact injuries of pedestrians. However, the landing mechanisms of pedestrian are too complicated to be categorized via investigation of the collision information after an accident has occurred. Nowadays, pedestrian kinematics after vehicle impacts can be observed from the accident videos that have been recorded by road monitoring and driver recorders. This study was aimed at investigating the pedestrian landing mechanisms and analyzing the influencing factors. In the current study, 134 pedestrian cases (involving 136 pedestrians) were selected from the internet, and 13 types of landing mechanisms were classified according to the fall kinematics and landing posture. Our results show that pedestrians who were thrown forward and hit the ground without a clear rotational tendency (ground landing mechanism II) accounted for the highest frequency, 49.3% in all cases. The landing mechanisms of pedestrians were affected by impact velocities and kinematic trajectories during vehicle impacts. The results of this study can benefit the development of vehicle safety systems that reduce pedestrian ground impact injuries.
Li, Quan, Han, Yong, Mizuno, Koji
Simulation Driven Optimization of Automotive Floor Console Mounting Brackets – An Overview2018-01-10204/3/2018
Floor consoles or Center consoles are an indispensable part of Automotive Cockpit systems in modern passenger vehicles. It occupies space between the front seats in the car and has a lot of utilities and functionalities. The center console design can be very simple as just providing an enclosure for the gear shifter and parking brake and as complex as having storage bins with armrest which can slide. Now-a-days a lot of functionalities are being provided by the center console such as housing the AC vents at the rear, provision for USB and power outlets etc. All these utilities within the center console demand a certain amount of structural rigidity to meet the functional requirements as well as applicable regulatory requirements. The console mounting bracket usually serves to attach the plastic center console to the steel underbody. It also acts as a load carrier for the console and its design influences the overall stiffness and modal characteristics of the console system. In this paper, two different CAE optimization strategies are applied to two variants of console for a passenger minivan application. For one console model, topology optimization strategy is applied to optimize the material on its mounting bracket. In the other console model, which is relatively complex, topography optimization strategy is applied to its mounting bracket for meeting the functional requirements of the console assembly. The critical functional requirements are validated through CAE techniques and correlation with physical test for one of the variants is highlighted in this paper.
Taruvai Sankaran, Raghuraman, S, Arunkumar, Arunachalam, Muthukumar, Gudla, harinadh
An SVM-Based Method Combining AEB and Airbag Systems to Reduce Injury of Unbelted Occupants2018-01-11714/3/2018
An autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system can detect emergency conditions using sensors (e.g., radar and camera) to automatically activate the braking actuator without driver input. However, during the hard braking phase, crash conditions for the restraint system can easily change (e.g., vehicle velocity and occupant position), causing an out-of-position (OOP) phenomenon, especially for unbelted occupants entering the airbag deployment range, which may lead to more severe injuries than in a normal position. A critical step in reducing the injury of unbelted occupants would be to design an AEB system while considering the effect of deployed airbags on the occupants. Thus far, few studies have paid attention to the compatibility between AEB and airbag systems for unbelted occupants. This study aims to provide a method that combines AEB and airbag systems to explore the potential injury reduction capabilities for unbelted occupants. By dividing the distance between the driver’s head and the top of the steering wheel into five regions, the possible area of head position was obtained by computational investigation for several combinations of braking acceleration and time. Using braking acceleration and time as input features, as well as real-time head position in one of five regions as an output feature, a support vector machine (SVM) classification model was trained and validated by the obtained data set. The ride-down efficiencies of the different regions were compared, and optimization for maximum delta-V reduction was conducted based on the SVM model under the prerequisite of guaranteeing high ride-down efficiency and appropriate forward displacement for the occupant. By utilizing the above-mentioned method to design the integrated safety systems including AEB and airbag systems, the safety benefits of this approach were demonstrated by comparing with those of the original design.
Zhou, Huajian, Hu, Manjiang, Zhong, Zhihua
Lumbar Spine Fractures in Undercarriage Impacts: Analysis of 1997-2015 NASS-CDS2018-01-05464/3/2018
Objective: This is a descriptive study of the incidence of spinal injury by crash type using NASS-CDS. It provides an understanding of impacts to the undercarriage of the vehicle and injuries to the lumbar spine by reviewing electronic cases in NASS-CDS to determine crash circumstances for fractures of the lumbar spine with undercarriage impacts. Methods: 1997-2015 NASS-CDS was evaluated for serious injury (MAIS 3 + F) to front-seat occupants by seatbelt use and crash type in 1994+ MY vehicles. Undercarriage impacts were defined by GAD1 = U without a rollover. Serious injury was defined as MAIS 3 + F. Spinal injuries AIS 3+ were separated into cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. Weighted data was determined using ratio weight. NASS-CDS electronic cases were downloaded from NHTSA with AIS 3+ lumbar spine injuries in undercarriage impacts. Results: There were 2,160 MAIS 3 + F injured occupants in undercarriage impacts. This was 0.23% of all serious injury. There were 914 (42.3%) AIS 3+ spinal injuries in undercarriage impacts with 88.3% in the lumbar spine. The 807 lumbar spine injuries represented 4.1% of all AIS 3+ spinal injury. There were six electronic cases with AIS 3+ lumbar spine injury in undercarriage impacts. They involved off-road excursions at high speed with undercarriage impacts from changes in terrain. All involved front airbag deployments. Four of the six cases involved multiple lumbar fractures from compression of the spine. Conclusions: Serious spinal injuries are rare in undercarriage impacts. Based on NASS-CDS cases, they are primarily compression (burst) fractures of the lumbar spine from vertical loads on the spine.
Viano, David C., Parenteau, Chantal
Optimizing Occupant Restraint Systems for Tactical Vehicles in Frontal Crashes2018-01-06214/3/2018
The objective of this study was to optimize the occupant restraint systems for a light tactical vehicle in frontal crashes. A combination of sled testing and computational modeling were performed to find the optimal seatbelt and airbag designs for protecting occupants represented by three size of ATDs and two military gear configurations. This study started with 20 sled frontal crash tests to setup the baseline performance of existing seatbelts, which have been presented previously; followed by parametric computational simulations to find the best combinations of seatbelt and airbag designs for different sizes of ATDs and military gear configurations involving both driver and passengers. Then 12 sled tests were conducted with the simulation-recommended restraint designs. The test results were further used to validate the models. Another series of computational simulations and 4 sled tests were performed to fine-tune the optimal restraint design solutions. The sled tests with the optimized seatbelt and airbag designs provided significant improvement of occupant protection from the baseline tests in terms of the head, neck, chest, and lower extremity injury measures. Using a baseline seatbelt without an airbag, the ATD tended to contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel, or sustained a significant head whipping motion inducing large head and neck injury measures. By adding the airbag and reducing the load limit in the seatbelt, the injury measures were improved significantly. This study demonstrated the benefit of adding a properly designed airbag and advanced seatbelt to improve the occupant protection in frontal crashes under an environment representing a light tactical vehicle.
Hu, Jingwen, Ritchie Orton, Nichole, Chen, Cong, Reed, Matthew, Rupp, Jonathan, Gruber, Rebekah, Clark, David, Scherer, Risa
Small Sensor Array Offers Easier Way to Image BrainTBMG-285253/1/2018
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories want to use small magnetic sensors to image the brain in a way that's simpler and less expensive than the magnetoencephalography system now used.
Optical Bonding of Automotive Smart SurfacesTBMG-283402/1/2018
Behr Hella Thermo Control (BHTC) of Lippstadt, Germany, manufactures automotive interior components. As the demand for smarter cars increases, BHTC encountered a new automotive interior challenge: optical bonding of automotive smart surfaces. The challenge of optical bonding led to a working relationship with Precision Valve and Automotive (PVA) of Cohoes, NY, to meet BHTC’s production and flexibility needs.
Critical Cooling in Medical Devices – Part 1TBMG-283512/1/2018
Strain-rate Dependency of Axonal Tolerance for Uniaxial Stretching2017-22-000311/13/2017
This study aims to clarify the relation between axonal deformation and the onset of axonal injury. Firstly, to examine the influence of strain rate on the threshold for axonal injury, cultured neurons were subjected to 12 types of stretching (strains were 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 and strain rates were 10, 30, 50, and 70 s-1). The formation of axonal swellings and bulbs increased significantly at strain rates of 50 and 30 s-1 with strains of 0.15 and 0.20, respectively, even though those formations did not depend on strain rates in cultures exposed to a strain of 0.10. Then, to examine the influence of the strain along an axon on axonal injury, swellings were measured at every axonal angle in the stretching direction. The axons that were parallel to stretching direction were injured the most. Finally, we proposed an experimental model that subjected an axon to more accurate strain. This model observed the process of axonal injury formation by detecting the same neuron before and after stretching. These results suggest that the strain-rate dependency of axonal tolerance is induced by a higher magnitude of loading strain and an experiment focusing on axonal strain is required for obtaining more detailed injury criteria for an axon.
Nakadate, Hiromichi, Kurtoglu, Evrim, Furukawa, Hidenori, Oikawa, Shoko, Aomura, Shigeru, Kakuta, Akira, Matsui, Yasuhiro
Potential Effects of Deceleration Pulse Variations on Injury Measures Computed in Aircraft Seat HIC Analysis Testing2017-01-20529/19/2017
Aircraft seating systems are evaluated utilizing a variety of impact conditions and selected injury measures. Injury measures like the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) are evaluated under standardized conditions using anthropomorphic dummies such as those outlined in 14 CFR part 25. An example test involves decelerating one or more rows of seats and allowing a lap-belted dummy to impact components in front of it, which typically include the seatback and its integrated features. Examples of head contact surfaces include video monitors, a wide range of seat back materials, and airbags. The HIC, and other injury measures such as Nij, can be calculated during such impacts. A minimum test pulse, with minimum allowable acceleration vs time boundaries, is defined as part of the regulations for a frontal impact. In this study the effects of variations in decelerations that meet the requirements are considered. A series of Finite Element simulations of a generalized aircraft seat were performed to determine the variation in HIC and Nij observed based on variations in the deceleration pulse. The results indicate that the pulse characteristics affect the resulting head motions and can influence the ability to pass the HIC analysis test.
Friedman, K, Mattos, G, Bui, K, Hutchinson, J, Jafri, A, Paver PhD, J
Potential Effects of Friction on Injury Measures Computed in Aircraft Seat HIC Analysis Testing2017-01-20549/19/2017
Aircraft seating systems are evaluated utilizing a variety of impact conditions and select injury measures. Injury measures like the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) are evaluated under standardized conditions using anthropomorphic test devices such as those outlined in 14 CFR part 25. An example test involves decelerating one or more rows of seats and allowing a lap-belted ATD to engage components in front of it, which typically include the seatback and its integrated features. Examples of head contact surfaces include video monitors, various plastic and composite fascia, and a wide range of seat back materials. The HIC, and other injury measures such as Nij, can be calculated during such impacts. It has been shown in other safety applications that the friction between a headform and contact surface can affect the test results. A series of finite element simulations of a frontal deceleration pulse with a generalized aircraft seat was performed to determine the variation in HIC and Nij observed based on various friction characteristics between the ATD and select seat components. The results indicate that the level of friction on the test device headform can influence the ability to pass the HIC analysis test. Of particular interest is the change in response due to the use of friction characteristics representative of human skin compared with ATD skin.
Friedman, K, Mattos, G, Bui, K, Hutchinson, J, Jafri, A, Paver, J
National Institutes of HealthTBMG-275499/1/2017
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) traces its roots to 1887, when a one-room laboratory was created within the Marine Hospital Service (MHS), the predecessor agency to the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). An agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, today NIH is the nation’s focal point for health research. Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., officially became director of NIH in 2009.
Developing a Laser System to Decrease the Rate of Neurodevelopment IssuesTBMG-262201/1/2017
A fairly new biomedical imaging modality, optoacoustic imaging is based on the use of laser-generated ultrasound. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it is a hybrid method that has emerged over the past two decades, combining the high-contrast and spectroscopic-based specificity of optical imaging with the high spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging.
Age-Specific Injury Risk Curves for Distributed, Anterior Thoracic Loading of Various Sizes of Adults Based on Sternal Deflections2016-22-000111/7/2016
Injury Risk Curves are developed from cadaver data for sternal deflections produced by anterior, distributed chest loads for a 25, 45, 55, 65 and 75 year-old Small Female, Mid-Size Male and Large Male based on the variations of bone strengths with age. These curves show that the risk of AIS ≥ 3 thoracic injury increases with the age of the person. This observation is consistent with NASS data of frontal accidents which shows that older unbelted drivers have a higher risk of AIS ≥ 3 chest injury than younger drivers.
Mertz, Harold J., Prasad, Priya, Dalmotas, Dainius J., Irwin, Annette L.
Development of an Unbiased Validation Protocol to Assess the Biofidelity of Finite Element Head Models used in Prediction of Traumatic Brain Injury2016-22-001311/7/2016
This study describes a method to identify laboratory test procedures and impact response requirements suitable for assessing the biofidelity of finite element head models used in prediction of traumatic brain injury. The selection of the experimental data and the response requirements were result of a critical evaluation based on the accuracy, reproducibility and relevance of the available experimental data. A weighted averaging procedure was chosen in order to consider different contributions from the various test conditions and target measurements based on experimental error. According to the quality criteria, 40 experimental cases were selected to be a representative dataset for validation. Based on the evaluation of response curves from four head finite element models, CORA was chosen as a quantitative method to compare the predicted time history response to the measured data. Optimization of the CORA global settings led to the recommendation of performing curve comparison on a fixed time interval of 0-30 ms for intracranial pressure and at least 0-40 ms for brain motion and deformation. The allowable maximum time shift was adjusted depending on the shape of the experimental curves (DMAX = 0.12 for intracranial pressure, DMAX = 0.40 for brain motion and DMAX = 0.25 for brain deformation). Finally, bigger penalization of ratings was assigned to curves with fundamentally incorrect shape compared to those having inaccuracies in amplitude or time shift (cubic vs linear). This rigorous approach is necessary to ensure confidence in the model results and progress in the usage of finite element head models for traumatic brain injury prediction.
Giordano, Chiara, Kleiven, Svein
Reducing Sensor and Readout Circuitry Noise in Digital Domain Using Reference PixelsTBMG-2552210/1/2016
One of the main heritage tools used in scientific and engineering data spectrum analysis is the Fourier Integral Transform and its high-performance digital equivalent — the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The Fourier view of nonlinear mechanics that has existed for a long time and the associated FFT carry strong a-priori assumptions about the source data, such as linearity and being stationary. Natural phenomena measurements are essentially nonlinear and nonstationary.
Therapeutic Window to the BrainTBMG-253999/1/2016
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) are bringing their idea for a “Window to the Brain” transparent skull implant closer to reality through the findings of two recently published studies. The implant under development, which literally provides a window to the brain, will allow doctors to deliver minimally invasive, laser-based treatments to patients with life-threatening neurological disorders, such as brain cancers, traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and stroke (see figure). The studies highlight both the biocompatibility of the implant material and its ability to endure bacterial infections.
Development of an Active Spinal Support System for Reducing Lumbar Loading from Body Borne EquipmentF-0072-2016-114165/17/2016
The weight of equipment bearing on the upper torso of soldiers and aviators has increased substantially over the past several decades. This increased weight of torso-supported equipment can significantly increase the chances of acute injuries during extreme events (i.e., crashes and hard landings), as well as long-term chronic injuries from normal flight operations. In this study, a novel seat subsystem (the "ActiveSpine") was developed with the goal of off-loading a seated occupant's spine and lower back from occupant-borne equipment while maintaining full mobility. By doing so, the ActiveSpine is intended to reduce pilot fatigue and risk of chronic injury during normal flight conditions, while also significantly reducing risk of injury during a crash event. In this paper, the ActiveSpine concept and initial design is summarized, and an overview of the system's active control system is provided. Following this, results of both laboratory static off-loading evaluations and full-scale dynamic crash tests are presented. Through these tests, the ActiveSpine is shown to effectively off-load the occupant borne gear mass across a range of positions, while also reducing lumbar loads in a crash by up to 35% for a range of occupant sizes. In addition to this, measured test data showed that the ActiveSpine can significantly reduce occupant head motion in a crash, thereby significantly reducing the risk of a fatal head strike.
Sztein, Pablo, Richards, Marv, Hiemenz, Gregory, Kothera, Curt
Regional Level Crash Induced Injury Metrics Implemented within THUMS v4.012016-01-14894/5/2016
Crash reconstructions using finite element (FE) vehicle and human body models (HBMs) allow researchers to investigate injury mechanisms, predict injury risk, and evaluate the effectiveness of injury mitigation systems, ultimately leading to a reduced risk of fatal and severe injury in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). To predict injuries, regional-level injury metrics were implemented into the Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) full body HBM. THUMS was virtually instrumented with cross-sectional planes to measure forces and moments in the femurs, upper and lower tibias, ankles, pelvis (pubic symphysis, ilium, ischium, sacrum, ischial tuberosity, and inferior and superior pubic ramus), and the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs. To measure accelerations, virtual accelerometers were implemented in the head, thoracic vertebrae, sternum, ribs, and pelvis. Three chest bands and an abdominal band were implemented to measure chest and abdominal deflection. Organ injury is assessed with volumetric strain-based metrics in the lung, liver, and spleen. The kinematic and kinetic data described were batch-processed using a custom-built program known as the Injury Prediction Post-Processor (IPPP) to evaluate common injury metrics and risk probabilities from literature. A total of 30 injury metrics are currently implemented in the IPPP, including Head Injury Criterion (HIC), Combined Thoracic Index (CTI), and cross-sectional forces and moments. We have observed improved ability and accuracy in predicting real-world injury using stress and strain analysis compared to traditionally employed criteria for anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs).
Miller, Logan, Gaewsky, James, Weaver, Ashley, Stitzel, Joel, White, Nicholas
Vehicle’s Front End Profile Influence on Pedestrian Sensing System Using In-House Developed PDI-2 and Child FE Models2016-01-15104/5/2016
Many active safety systems are being developed with the intent of protecting pedestrians namely; pedestrian airbags, active hood, active emergency braking (AEB), etc. Effectiveness of such protection system relies on the efficiency of the sensing systems. The pop-uphood system was developed to help reduce pedestrian head injuries. A pop-up system is expected to make full deployment of the hood before the pedestrian’s head could hit the hood. The system should have the capability to detect most road users ranging from a six year old (6YO) child to a large male. To test the sensing system, an impactor model (PDI-2) was developed. Sensor response varies for vehicles with different front end profile dimensions. To study numerically the sensor response characteristics with respect to different front end parameters, (a) PDI-2 FE model was developed and validated, (b) FE model of sensor was developed and validated, (c) Sensor FE model was incorporated in the vehicle and it was simulated against the PDI-2 FE. The results were validated with physical experiments, (d) Vehicles with different front end profile models were developed and finally (e) Sensor response were studied using different vehicle designs simulated against PDI-2 FE and 6YO-child FE model. Results shows that for PDI-2 impacts, bumper height, bumper upper lead and bumper lower lead have influence in pressure sensor response. For 6YO-child impacts, the bumper height has influence in pressure sensor response.
Pal, Chinmoy, Okabe, Tomosaburo, Vimalathithan, Kulothungan, Manoharan, Jeyabharath, Vallabhaneni, Pratapnaidu, Shinada, Munenori, Sato, Kazuto
An Automated Head Impact Development for Automobile Instrument Panel Application2016-01-13704/5/2016
During the course of automobile Instrument Panel (IP) design development, the occupant head impact CAE simulation on IP are routinely performed to validate FMVSS201 requirements. Based on FMVSS201 requirements, the potential head impact zones on the IP are first identified. Then, the head impact zones are used to locate the various target points that must be impacted on IP. Once the critical target locations on IP are chosen, there are several computational steps that are required to calculate impact angles and head form (HF) center of rotation in reference to target points. Then, CAE engineer performs a repetitive process that involves positioning each individual HF with proper impact angle, assigning initial velocity to HF, and defining surface contacts within the finite element model (FEM). To simplify these lengthy manual steps, a commercially available software HyperMesh® CAE software tool is used to automate these steps. The automation scripting tool is based on TCL programming. The automated tool will generate head impact FE model for all selected target points and ready for submission to the solver. The new automation process also generates report automatically with significant analyst time saving and increasing productivity. In addition, the automation approach would help to create consistent repeatable method by eliminating or minimizing human errors. In this paper a correlation study between the CAE HF automation process and manual setup as well as actual physical test results will be discussed.
Farahani, Vali, Maaita, Salamah, Jayanthi, Aditya
Advanced Sensors for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)TBMG-242744/1/2016
The objective of this work was to use miniaturized, state-of-the-art pressure/temperature sensors engineered at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to measure the immediate increases in intracranial pressure (ICP) combined with longer-term measurements of biological ICP and intracranial temperature. The experience gathered from this work provided valuable data on sensor placement, long-term brain tissue responses to implanted sensors, and sensor capability of dual measurement of biologic ICP and impact pressure transients.
Wireless, Dissolvable Sensors to Monitor BrainTBMG-242844/1/2016
A team of neurosurgeons and scientists at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSTL) in St. Louis and engineers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new type of small, thin, wireless brain sensor that can monitor intracranial pressure and temperature and then be absorbed by the body, which would eliminate the need for surgical removal of the devices that are smaller than a pencil tip. (See Figure 1)
Effects of Excitation Voltage on Piezoresistive and Resistive Sensor Output Characteristics2016-28-01822/1/2016
In laboratory car crash tests, Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATD) are equipped with piezoresistive and resistive sensors for occupant injury assessment. Accelerometers are inertial transducers that convert acceleration into electrical output which can be easily recorded by a Data Acquisition System (DAS). For an accelerometer, this electrical output mainly depends upon subjected acceleration, sensitivity of the accelerometer, excitation voltage and gain provided. Before use in testing, accelerometers are calibrated at a standard excitation (manufacturer decided) voltage to determine characteristics like Sensitivity, Sensitivity per unit excitation voltage, Zero Measurand Output (ZMO), Transverse Sensitivity etc. It is observed that these characteristics are highly dependent on the excitation voltage. In testing, due to limitations of DAS and/or other unwanted noise in the excitation voltage, these accelerometers are sometimes used at a different excitation voltage. This paper studies the behavior and characteristics of various accelerometers used in impact testing with respect to changes in excitation voltage and thus predict the inconsistencies in the injury data measurement.
Reddy, Indrakaran, Singh, Niraj Kumar, Singh, Sonu Kumar
Optimization of Seatbelt Anchorage Mount Locations for Occupant Injury Reduction in Frontal Crash2016-28-02512/1/2016
In the event of a frontal car crash, occupant sitting in a car meets various types of injuries like Head injury, Chest compression, Neck injury etc. These injuries may lead to the death of an occupant if exceeded beyond biomechanical limits. Seat belt is a primary restraint system, which when worn controls the motion of occupant sitting inside the car during the event of a car crash. An Anchorage location of three point seat belt system has significant effect on occupant injuries during the crash event. By changing the mount locations of a seat belt anchor points i.e. D-ring, Anchor & Buckle, performance of seatbelt system can be enhanced further thereby reducing occupant injuries to certain extent. As per regulation AIS015, locations of safety belt anchorage points should be within prescribed zone. This paper explains effect of changing mounting location of each anchorage points on occupant injuries & also explains how to find optimized seat belt anchorage mount locations within prescribed zone mentioned as per regulations keeping various occupant injuries to minimal value.
Patil, Kantilal, Reddy, Siva, Zafar, Nadeem
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