Principal Investigator: Valentina Graci, PhD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
This study builds upon prior research utilizing the Large Omnidirectional Child (LODC) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) in frontal and lateral oblique crash scenarios and aims to:
- characterize kinematics and kinetics of the LODC when the seatback of a production vehicle seat is reclined during sled-simulated lateral oblique vehicle crashes; and
- understand the influence of the booster seat and the restraints on the kinematics and kinetics of the LODC during sled-simulated lateral oblique vehicle crashes.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT?
This project aimed to expand our previous findings that showed belt-positioning booster seats prevent submarining (sliding under the seat belt) when a child dummy (LODC) is in a reclined seating position in a frontal crash. In this current project we characterized the kinematics and kinetics of a reclined, booster-seated LODC in far-side lateral-oblique crashes.
HOW WAS THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED?
The LODC was positioned in eight lateral-oblique sled tests, with and without a booster, and at three seat-back angles (nominal, moderate, and severe recline) to evaluate the injury and submarining risk of children in these conditions. The dummy was positioned in a far side position – away from the side of impact.
WHAT DID YOU FIND?
We saw several important advantages to having the children in booster seats, including lower abdominal pressure, chest deflection, neck lateral movement, pelvis and thoracic acceleration, and lumbar stress compared to non-booster seated children. However, the boosted children experienced greater head excursion and pelvis lateral rotation in far-side impacts, which is something to consider since in far-side impacts countermeasures such as the side air bag are too far away to provide protection.
HOW ARE THESE RESULTS APPLICABLE TO INDUSTRY MEMBERS?
We hope that our findings provide useful information to vehicle manufacturers for restraint design, especially for children transitioning from a booster seat to just a seat belt alone. This study is an important step toward understanding how to keep children safe in a reclined position, which will become increasingly important as more autonomous vehicles are on the road.
WHAT’S NEXT?
It would be great to continue this line of research in non-injurious conditions with real children to better understand how they move both with and without a booster seat, as well as with and without a pre-pretensioner as part of the 5-point seat belt. This would provide even more information to move restraint design forward.
Test image of the LODC on a 45 degree reclined seatback angle during a lateral oblique impact before the LODC reached maximum head excursion: with the booster seat.
Test image of the LODC on a 45 degree reclined seatback angle during a lateral oblique impact before the LODC reached maximum head excursion: without the booster seat.
Co-Investigators
Hans Hauschild, MS, Medical College of Wisconsin; John Humm, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin; Jalaj Maheshwari, MSE, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
IAB Mentors
Jonathan Gondek, Calspan Corporation; Suzanne Johansson, General Motors Holdings LLC; Mark LaPlante, Graco Children’s Products Inc.; Emily Burton, American Honda Motor Co. Inc.; James Fitzpatrick, Graco Children’s Products, Inc.; Jerry Wang, Humanetics Innovative Solutions Inc.; Erin Hutter, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Schuyler St. Lawrence, Toyota USA; Julie Kleinert, Technical Advisor; Uwe Meissner, Technical Advisor