The frontal-impact response of a booster-seated child-size PMHS.
OBJECTIVE
This article presents the response of a child-size postmortem human subject using a booster seat in a series of three frontal impact sled tests.


METHODS
A 54-year-old female cadaver was seated in a booster seat in the rear seat of a buck representing a mid-sized American sedan. Two different restraint systems (conventional belt and pretensioning, force-limiting belt) were used to run three simulated frontal impacts (one at 29 km/h, two at 48 km/h). Instrumentation included accelerometers rigidly mounted on relevant body landmarks as well as chest bands. Trajectories were assessed through high-speed video cameras.


RESULTS
Specific focus was on the whole-body kinematics and resulting head trajectories under two different restraint conditions (booster seat and standard belt, booster seat and force-limiting pretensioning belt) in a rear seat environment. At 48 km/h, the pretensioning, force-limiting seat belt reduced the forward excursion of both the head (353 mm vs. 424 mm) and the h-point (120 mm vs. 152 mm) compared to the standard system. Maximum torso pitch was similar for both seat belts.


CONCLUSIONS
A complete description of the outcome of the tests is presented in the article. These results suggest that the introduction of a pretensioning force limiting belt in the rear seat can be beneficial for small size occupants like children using booster seats.
Lopez-Valdes
Francisco J
FJ
Center for Applied Biomechanics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, USA. fjl2j@virginia.edu
Forman
Jason
J
Bostrom
Ola
O
Kent
Richard
R
D000054:Acceleration; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000145:classification; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D057207:Child Restraint Systems; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012622:Seat Belts; D014741:Video Recording; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology