RESEARCH PORTFOLIO

Epidemiologic Investigation of Child Restraint Installation Position and Serious Injury among Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes

Principal Investigator: Rachel Myers, PhD

The goal of this study is to create a unique source of epidemiologic crash data that enables novel description of use and installation patterns of child restraints among crash-involved children and— following linkage with hospital discharge and death certificate data—novel description of child occupant injury outcomes based on restraint use and installation (rear- vs. forward-facing).

2023-2024

Interactions Between Aircraft Airbags and Child Occupants

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

A variety of new air bags are being introduced into commercial aircraft cabins, with no currently available data to determine if any of the air bags offer protection to children, whether they might injure children, or whether they can be used in conjunction with child restraint systems (CRS) on aircraft. This study aims to provide these data through static installations and dynamic crash testing.

Pediatric Shoulder Anthropometry and Improvement of Belt Fit Evaluation Tools

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

The external contours of the shoulders of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) are over-simplified and lack important anatomical details that are important to determine optimal shoulder belt placement. This study aims to develop an improved shoulder form to better represent children’s shoulders during belt fit evaluations using
current ATDs.

2022-2023

Booster Features That Influence Pediatric Posture and Comfort During Extended Time Periods: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This study aims to determine how specific booster seat features, including seat pan geometry (booster height and length) and the inclusion of armrests, influence occupant comfort in belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs).
Quantifying Belt Tension in CRS Installations with Lock-off and Tensioning Features: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This study aims to quantify how much tension built-in tensioning features, such as a door or clasp that closes over the seat belt, produce on the belt.

2021-2022

Load Leg Compatibility with Vehicles: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

The research team will survey approximately 50 modern vehicle seats to quantify relevant dimensions for load leg design such as seat cushion length, seat cushion angle, height from the floor, and floor characteristics; document the characteristics of CRS load legs on the US market and install a select sample of CRS into approximately 20 vehicles to determine where and how load legs typically contact the floor pan; and compile these benchmark data to…
Usability and Stability of European vs. American Belt Routing for No-Base CRS Installations: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This project seeks to determine whether the American or European belt paths are practical installation options for US consumers by examining a sample of approximately 30 vehicles for their ability to accommodate no-base CRS installations.

2020-2021

Comparison of CRS Installation Methods and Misuse During Far Side Impact Sled Testing: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

In this study, far side sled testing will be performed in late model year production vehicle seats for rear-facing CRS, forward-facing CRS, and boosters using a variety of proper and improper installation methods: seat belt alone, LATCH alone (with and without top tether), and LATCH and seat belt together. The broad objective of this work is to determine whether installation method affects far side crash performance so that CRS and vehicle…
Evaluation of Rigid vs. Flexible LATCH: Fit-to-Vehicle with Consumer Performance and Feedback: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the rigid LATCH system for use within U.S. vehicles. The research team will evaluate a convenience sample of vehicles from the current U.S. market for their readiness for rigid LATCH CRS installations across a range of seating positions. A group of volunteer caregivers will install a CRS into a vehicle using three different types of LATCH system in order to evaluate consumer performance and feedback…

2019-2020

Evaluation of LATCH vs. Non-LATCH Installations for Boosters in Frontal Impacts: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

The goal of this project is to collect dynamic sled data and computer simulation data to determine how booster occupants might benefit or not benefit from LATCH installations.
Implementation of Interactive CRS Education Station: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

This project aims to refine the interactive CRS education system using information gathered during pilot testing and to deploy the system in a supervised public location.

2018-2019

Effects of Adjacent Seat Positions on CRS Performance in Side Impacts: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

Versatility in vehicle seating positions offer consumers the ability to adapt the vehicle environment to their family’s needs. However, it is currently not known how these various seat configurations and obstacles might interact with child restraint systems (CRS) in adjacent seats during side impacts. This study utilizes sled testing to define the performance outcomes of CRS in side impacts under specific seating configurations.
Effectiveness of Boosters vs. Forward-facing Five-point Harness: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

As the optimal time to transition a child from a forward-facing child restraint system to a booster is not currently clear, this study aims to help inform better guidelines for children during this transition. Statistical analyses will be conducted on cases in federally available databases and the mechanisms of injury in each type of seat will be analyzed to compile recommendations for industry interventions.

2017-2018

Evaluation of CRS and Vehicle Features Associated with Improved Top Tether Attachment Rates: Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

Proper use of the top tether is associated with reduced head excursion and reduction of other injury metrics in forward-facing child restraint systems (FF CRS). Even imperfect top tether attachments can still provide some degree of protection to occupants. Unfortunately, the top tether is only attached in approximately 50% of FF CRS installations. Studies indicate that large percentages of caregivers do not realize that the top tether exists, and do…
Evaluation of Variability in Five-point Harness Tightening Procedures: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

CRS sled testing efforts depend on the ability of the sled protocol to produce consistent results. Small variations in test benches, seat belt tensions, ATD calibrations, and harness tensions can affect the quality of test results. One important aspect of CRS testing which has not been extensively studied is the method by which the harness is tightened, and the process of verifying that consistent harness tensions are being used across trials. The long…
Evaluation of Variability in Five-point Harness Tightening Procedures: Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

CRS sled testing efforts depend on the ability of the sled protocol to produce consistent results. Small variations in test benches, seat belt tensions, ATD calibrations, and harness tensions can affect the quality of test results. One important aspect of CRS testing which has not been extensively studied is the method by which the harness is tightened, and the process of verifying that consistent harness tensions are being used across trials. The…
Evaluation of CRS and Vehicle Features Associated with Improved Top Tether Attachment Rates: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

Proper use of the top tether is associated with reduced head excursion and reduction of other injury metrics in forward-facing child restraint systems (FF CRS). Even imperfect top tether attachments can still provide some degree of protection to occupants. Unfortunately, the top tether is only attached in approximately 50% of FF CRS installations. Studies indicate that large percentages of caregivers do not realize that the top tether exists, and do…

2016-2017

Performance of Rear-facing CRS in Rear Impacts: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

In frontal and oblique impacts, rear-facing (RF) CRS distribute crash forces throughout the occupant’s back and keep the head, neck, and spine safely aligned. However, in a rear impact, the overall kinematics of the crash are reversed and the five point harness becomes the primary loading surface for the occupant’s weight. The objective of this research is to investigate the response of RF CRS occupants in rear impacts, a currently under-addressed…
Usability of Non-standard Lower Anchor Spacing for CRS Installations: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

Vehicle manufacturers are under increased pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to provide the option of using LATCH in the rear center position of vehicles. One possible solution to this request is to allow consumers to “borrow” the inboard lower anchor from each outboard LATCH position to create a “simulated” center LATCH position. However, these borrowed lower…
Usability of Non-standard Lower Anchor Spacing for CRS Installations: Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

Vehicle manufacturers are under increased pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to provide the option of using LATCH in the rear center position of vehicles. One possible solution to this request is to allow consumers to “borrow” the inboard lower anchor from each outboard LATCH position to create a “simulated” center LATCH position. However, these borrowed lower…

2015-2016

Compatibility of Belt-positioning Boosters in Vehicles: Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

The broad objective of this research is to increase belt-positioning booster usage for children who are not yet large enough for adult seat belts. This study aims to quantify common compatibility issues which may be prompting poor usage rates of belt-positioning boosters, highlight the strengths and weaknesses of booster compatibility in the market today, and provide benchmark values for manufacturers to reference during design decisions.