Development of a Mechanical Impedance Model-Based Computer Simulator for Evaluation of an Active Headrest Mechanism in Rear-End Impact

Recent years have seen increasing demand for the development of a car seat with an active headrest (AHR) that is expected as one of strong mechanisms to reduce neck injuries caused by rear-end collisions. This paper develops a mechanical impedance model-based computer simulator that can be used to analyze and design an effective AHR seat by means of the 7 criteria in line with the specifications of Euro-NCAP such as NIC and Nkm. The developed simulator can reproduce the dynamic behavior of a crash-test dummy (BioRID II) as measured in an actual rear-end collision test. The effectiveness of AHR originally developed to reduce neck injuries was quantitatively evaluated through a set of computer simulations. Furthermore, in order to improve the performance of the AHR seat, effects of the seat parameters such as the seat joint stiffness, the headrest position, and the viscoelastic parameters of the seat surface were investigated.

[1]  M Y Svensson,et al.  The influence of seat-back and head-restraint properties on the head-neck motion during rear-impact. , 1996, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[2]  Michael Kleinberger,et al.  Performance of Seats with Active Head Restraints in Rear Impacts , 2007 .

[3]  Massimiliano Gobbi,et al.  Developing a 'no-whiplash' headrest , 2009 .

[4]  Han Il Bae,et al.  Development of Computer Simulation Method for Seat Optimization to Reduce Neck Injury ina Low Speed Rear Impact , 2007 .

[5]  Steven W. Kirkpatrick,et al.  Development of an LS-DYNA Occupant Model for use in Crash Analyses of Roadside Safety Features , 2003 .

[6]  Peter Niederer,et al.  A NEW NECK INJURY CRITERION CANDIDATE FOR REAR-END COLLISIONS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT SHEAR FORCES AND BENDING MOMENTS , 2001 .

[7]  S. Stahlschmidt,et al.  BioRID II Dummy Model Development-- Influence of Parameters in Validation and Consumer Tests , 2006 .

[8]  H. Hansson,et al.  A NEW NECK INJURY CRITERION CANDIDATE-BASED ON INJURY FINDINGS IN THE CERVICAL SPINAL GANGLIA AFTER EXPERIMENTAL NECK EXTENSION TRAUMA , 1996 .

[9]  Memis Acar,et al.  A multi-body human model for rear-impact simulation , 2009 .

[10]  Tsuyoshi Yasuki,et al.  Consideration of Possible Indicators for Whiplash Injury Assessment and Examination of SeatDesign Parameters Using Human FE Model , 2007 .

[11]  K. M. Ragsdell,et al.  The Generalized Reduced Gradient Method: A Reliable Tool for Optimal Design , 1977 .

[12]  Volkan Esat,et al.  A Multi-Body Model of the Whole Human Spine for Whiplash Investigations , 2007 .

[13]  Bahram Ravani,et al.  A biomechanical evaluation of whiplash using a multi-body dynamic model. , 2003, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[14]  M Acar,et al.  Dynamic verification of a multi-body computational model of human head and neck for frontal, lateral, and rear impacts , 2007 .

[15]  Ronald L. Huston,et al.  INFLUENCE OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT POSITION ON DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF THE HEAD/NECK SYSTEM UNDER WHIPLASH LOADING , 2003 .

[16]  H. Müllerschön,et al.  Development of BioRID II Dummy Model using Stochastic Methods , 2007 .

[17]  Matthias Kuehn,et al.  Validation of a Seat-Dummy Simulation Model for Rear-Impact , 2007 .

[18]  S. Rajaee,et al.  Proposing a 2D dynamical model for investigating the parameters affecting whiplash injuries , 2006 .

[19]  Shyh-Chour Huang.  Analysis of human body dynamics in simulated rear-end impacts , 1998 .

[20]  H. Hansson,et al.  Pressure Effects in the Spinal Canal During Whiplash Extension Motion - A Possible Cause of Injury to the Cervical Spinal Ganglia , 1993 .