2022-2023

Effects of Head Restraint Interference on CRS Performance in Frontal and Side Impacts

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

This project aims to study the effects of head restraint interference on dynamic child restraint system (CRS) performance by conducting sled tests simulating frontal and far-side impacts.

Understanding Small Occupant Kinematic Response in Reclined Seats in Lateral Oblique Impacts by Testing the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD)

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

Utilizing the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) anthropomorphic test device (ATD), this study evaluates the injury and submarining risk of reclined children in lateral oblique vehicle crashes, with and without a booster seat.

Effect of a Pre-Pretensioner on Motion of Booster Seated Children in a Pre-Crash Maneuver

Principal Investigator: Madeline Griffith, MS

This study seeks to evaluate the influence of a pre-pretensioner equipped seat belt on booster-seated child volunteers during sled-simulated pre-crash maneuvers.

Quantifying the Q3s ATD Responses in CRS Harness Misuse Cases in Far-side Impacts on the FMVSS 213 NPRM Test Bench

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

This study examines the effects of 5-point harness misuse on the kinematic and kinetic response of a Q3s anthropomorphic test device (ATD) restrained in a forward-facing child restraint system on the new FMVSS 213 NPRM test bench.

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.

Frontal-Oblique Impact Sled Tests of a Rearward-Facing Child Restraint System With and Without a Support Leg

Principal Investigator: Declan Patton, PhD

This study aims to quantify the head and neck injury metrics associated with anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) in rear-facing child restraint system models for frontal-oblique impacts.

2021-2022

Phase II: Epidemiologic Investigation of Child Restraint Use and Injury among Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes

Principal Investigator: Rachel Myers, PhD

Year 2 work aims to complete linkage of 2018 and 2019 administrative data sources to supplement existing 2017 NJ Safety and Health Outcomes (NJ-SHO) data, to examine restraint use for select child occupant characteristics as well as driver and vehicle characteristics, and to comprehensively describe injuries for select child, driver, vehicle, and crash characteristics.

Effects of Temperature and Humidity on Dynamic Test Components

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

This project seeks to determine how environmental conditions, specifically temperature and humidity, impact the dynamic and quasi-static response of the newly proposed FMVSS 213 bench foam. A range of acceptable temperature and humidity conditions mandated by the federal standard will be studied.

Understanding Sources of Disparities in Child Restraint System Behaviors

Principal Investigator: Emma Sartin, PhD, MPH

This study aims to: 1) determine how caregivers receive information about their car seat products (e.g., car seat installation), caregivers’ preferences on future communication of this information, and their knowledge and use of car seat technologies and installation methods; and 2) examine how differences in sources of information impact car seat knowledge and real-world behaviors and use.

Motion of Reclined Booster-Seated Children During Sled-Simulated Lateral Oblique Pre-Crash Scenarios

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

This project aims to quantify kinematics, muscle activity, and seat belt loads of booster-seated child volunteers on a reclined vehicle seat across multiple seatback angles during a lateral oblique sled-simulated pre-crash maneuver. A second aim is to examine the difference between types of booster seats on children’s motion during a lateral oblique sled-simulated pre-crash maneuver.

IIHS Side Impact Barrier 2.0: Exploring the Effect of the Upgraded Barrier Impact on Naturalistically Seated Pediatric Occupants in Booster CRSs

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

The goal of this study is to utilize computational modeling to examine the kinematics and kinetics of naturalistically booster-seated pediatric human body models as per The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's new side impact test protocol.

Naturalistic Seating Postures in Frontal Impacts - Translating the Effect of ATD Seating Posture to Booster CRS Sled Testing Using the Q6 ATD

Principal Investigator: Jalaj Maheshwari, MS

This project aims to examine the effect of different seating postures on the kinematic and kinetic response of optimal and sub-optimal belt fit using a booster-seated Q6 anthropomorphic test device (ATD) and to quantify the variation across postures and child restraint systems in a frontal impact.

Interactions Between Rear-Facing Child Restraint Systems and the Front Row Seatback in Frontal Impact Sled Tests

Principal Investigator: Declan Patton, PhD

The goals of this project are to quantify the head and neck injury metrics of the Q1.5 anthropomorphic test device (ATD) in a rear-facing infant child restraint system (CRS) and the Q3 ATD in a rear-facing convertible CRS during frontal impacts for position (i.e., braced, touching or 25 mm gap) and support leg use (i.e. with or without).

New Insights for the Auto Industry: Identifying Key Eye-Tracking Metrics Associated with Cognitive Control While Driving, Validated by MEG Neuroimaging

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Walshe, PhD

This study aims to quantify eye behavior associated with increased cognitive brain responses during simulated driving scenarios in typically developed teens and conduct a pilot comparison of these eye tracking metrics and frontal lobe responses to those in teens with impaired cognitive control, via a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

Investigation on Mitigative Impact of Front Seat Back into Rear Passenger Space and Effects on Front Seat Occupant in Rear Impacts - Year 2

Principal Investigator: Yun Seok Kang, PhD

This project builds on prior CChIPS research to investigate front row seatback stiffness, deformation, and rotation to adequately absorb crash energy for front row occupants while also preventing excessive rearward rotation into the rear row space.

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

Shoulder Belt Interaction for Booster-Seated ATDs

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

The goal of the study is to evaluate dynamic outcomes of belt-positioning booster (BPB)-seated ATDs for various initial belt fit conditions and crash directions, in order to identify relationships between static belt fit and occupant posture with kinematic and injury outcomes during crash.

Understanding Reclined Small Occupants’ Kinematics in Frontal Crashes by Testing the LODC

Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD

This project aims to characterize kinematics and kinetics of the LODC when the seatback of a production vehicle seat is reclined during sled-simulated frontal vehicle crashes. A secondary aim of this project is to understand the influence of the booster seat on kinematics and kinetics of the LODC during sled-simulated frontal vehicle crashes.