A sample of 31 real world side-impact chrashes was selected for detailed analysis of the thoracic injuries observed in near-side occupants. The occupant kinematic data used in this study was based on the results from investigations carried out in the context of EEC programs on biomechanics. A clinical data base was established, and detection of the actual sites of contusive hemorrhage in the lungs of trauma patients allows informed speculation on the relative contribution of pathodynamic mechanisms in various types of blunt chest trauma. It was found that the injury mechanisms of visceral injuries are not the same in real accidents and in cadaver experiments. To give much confidence on cadaver data for the development of side impact dummies may result in misleading conclusions.

Carȇme, Ludo M. M.

Biomechanics of Head Injury in Frontal Impacts

9005412/1/1990

In order to define parameters that control the design of occupant protection systems, we used a biomechanical engineering approach to injury causation. From review of 87 autopsies applied to victims of pure frontal collisions, an injury level for the brain was specified in terms of the magnitude and history of some mechanical parameters. Peak and average linear and angular accelerations, their duration and rate of onset, intra-cranial pressure and force and energy applied to the cranium have been utilized for this purpose. The design of occupant protection systems for head injury is based on lowering the deceleration rate at impact. Although protecting against focal brain injury, these lower deceleration rates and longer pulse durations may place the occupant in jeopardy of developing fatal diffuse brain injury.

Careme, Ludo M.M.

Analysis of EUROSID Biofidelity

8903812/1/1989

Results from 15 side impact tests with EUROSID are reported and compared with results from 58 postmortem human subjects (PMHS). In this test series a CCMC moving deformable barrier impacted an Opel Kadett body in white under a 90° impact angle. Impact speeds were 40 km/h, 45 km/h, 50 km/h. The main goal of this research project was to find out to what extent the EUROSID is able to predict injuries which were obtained under identical test conditions using PMHS. Statistical methods described in former publications were used to calculate prediction relations derived from measured data. The body regions to be concentrated on according to PMHS tests were thorax, abdomen, and trunk of the EUROSID. Measurements taken on the dummy indicated major problems regarding interpretation of results: in some tests rib deflection was higher with 40 km/h than with 50 km/h. The abdominal switches frequently indicated high forces at 40 km/h impact speed whereas they did only once at 50 km/h. Measurements which are different from standard EUROSID measurement equipment seem to have a better potential for prediction of thoracic and abdominal injuries. Proposals for prediction of injury severity are made based on statistical analysis. TTI* and V*C are calculated and analysed with respect to their prediction quality.

Hoefs, Rainer, Kallieris, Dimitrios

How and When Blunt Injury Occurs — Implications to Frontal and Side Impact Protection

88171410/1/1988

The timing of liver laceration in swine during the course of a blunt impact was investigated. The swine were impacted on the upper abdomen by the lower segment of a steering wheel at 6, 9 and 12 m/s. The degree of compression in each impact was controlled independently from 10 to 50%. By varying when “the punch of an impact was pulled,” we reproduced progressive segments of a longer duration blunt impact. Autopsy of the subjects demonstrated that lacerations were initiated after 8 ms of loading at 9 m/s and 6 ms of loading at 12 m/s. The time of injury was concurrent with the time when the Viscous response exceeded a threshold of 1.2 m/s in our specimens. The Viscous injury criterion, defined as the peak Viscous response, was found to be the best predictor of liver laceration. We conclude that the Viscous response relates to the actual etiology of injury, in addition to being an excellent correlative measure. Our deduction of the timing of injury occurrence was confirmed by an analysis of published cadaver data where skeletal injuries can be observed. Field data of occupant injury in a side impact were re-examined in light of these findings to determine the optimal side impact protection. We found evidence that injury from both a high speed impact and from slower crushing is possible in a side crash. Our computer simulations also suggest that an anthropomorphic test device (ATD) with human-like compliance is necessary if laboratory test results are to reflect field performance.

Lau, Ian V., Viano, David C.

Restraint Performance of the 1973-76 GM Air Cushion Restraint System

880400

2/1/1988

Case reviews are given of deployment accidents of the GM 1973-76 air cushion restraint system where the occupant injury was AIS 3 or greater. Many of these injuries occurred in frontal accidents of minor to moderate collision severity where there was no intrusion or distortion of the occupant compartment. Dummy and animal test results are noted that indicate that these types of injuries could have occurred if the occupant was near the air cushion module at the time of cushion deployment. An analysis is given that indicates that for frontal accidents a restraint effectiveness of 50 percent in mitigating AIS 3 or greater injuries might be achieved if an air cushion system can be designed which would not seriously injure out-of-position occupants while still providing restraint for normally seated occupants.

Mertz, Harold J.

Alcohol Involvement in Motorcycle Accidents

8706022/1/1987

The in-depth investigations of two studies involving 1200 motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles were merged and analyzed for factors associated with alcohol involvement in motorcyclists and vehicle drivers who collided with motorcycles. A variety of factors converge around alcohol use to increase the likelihood of severe injury and death in alcohol related motorcycle accidents. Motorcycle riders who drank were more prone to operator error, to simply run off the road, to crash at higher speeds and less likely to have worn a helmet, hence more likely to be fatally injured than nondrinking motorcyclists. Fatally injured motorcyclists who showed evidence of prolonged alcohol abuse (1 in 7) were more likely to have been drinking or been intoxicated than non-abusers. Motorcycle operator and passenger alcohol consumption were strongly correlated. Drinking car drivers who struck a motorcycle were more likely to be in the striking vehicle in a rear-end or head-on collision and to be going faster when they collided.

Ouellet, James V., Hurt, Hugh H., Thom, David R.

An Introduction to Lower Limb Injuries

861922

10/1/1986

An understanding of the injuries of the lower limb requires a knowledge of the terminology describing the injuries. To understand injuries one should also appreciate how injured tissue recovers. This paper summarizes the terminology of lower limb injuries. It also explains the basic concepts of injury healing and the classification of injuries.

Levine, Robert S.

Lower Limb Injuries to Riders of Motorcycles

86193010/1/1986

The frequency and severity of leg injuries to motorcycle riders is illustrated through published literature. Of injured riders receiving hospital treatment, over 50% have a significant leg injury. In environments where crash helmet use is high, the leg is the body region most frequently injured. Within that anatomical region the lower leg is damaged most frequently. The problem of injury severity and disability is discussed briefly where the AIS Procedure is shown to have limited value, particularly for the lower leg. The generally severe nature of motorcyclists' leg injuries is emphasized in terms of the frequent need for shin and bone grafting, and the heel flap injury almost unique to motorcycling is discussed. Crush and impact injury mechanisms are reviewed, and then some possibilities for the introduction of leg protection and crashworthiness of motorcycles as a concept is mentioned.

Mackay, Murray

The Methodology of In-Depth Studies of Car Crashes in Britain

850556

2/25/1985

The evolution of in-depth research studies in Europe is reviewed, with particular emphasis on work in Britain since the early 1960's. The catalytic role of the NATO-CCMS programme in establishing in-depth teams in a number of countries and in developing common methodologies, notably in crash and injury severity, is outlined. The methodology of in-depth studies currently being conducted at the Accident Research Units at Birmingham University and at the Institute for Consumer Ergonomics at Loughborough is outlined and some observations are made on data collection techniques, analysis and project management.

Mackay, G. M., Ashton, S. J., Galer, M. D., Thomas, P. D.