Biodynamic simulations of the effect of a neck-mounted air bag on the head/neck response during high G acceleration.
New helmet-mounted devices (such as night-vision goggles, laser eye protection, etc.) have created new safety hazards for pilots during ejection or high G maneuvering. In order to prevent the resulting head/neck injuries, this study extends the air-bag protection system developed for ground vehicles to a neck mounted system for aircrew personnel. Results, carried out by computer biodynamic simulations using the Articulated Total Body Model (ATB), showed that: 1) helmet weight had little effect on head/neck torque, contact force and flexion angle; 2) initial head/neck position and center of gravity offsets of the helmet-mounted devices had significant effects on head-neck torques, contact forces, and neck flexion angles; and 3) the neck mounted air bag significantly reduced neck torques, contact forces, and neck flexion angles. We conclude that the neck-mounted air bag system could significantly reduce the severity of head/neck injuries to pilots during ejection or high G maneuvering.
Lee
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CM
Department of Industrial Engineering, Korea Air Force Academy, Seoul.
Freivalds
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Lee
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D000054:Acceleration; D000401:Aircraft; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006112:Gravitation; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019838:Neck Injuries; D014894:Weights and Measures; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control