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ABSTRACT
Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the performance of a pelvic restraint cushion (PRC), a submarining countermeasure that deploys under the thighs when a crash is detected in order to block the forward motion of the pelvis.
Methods: Sled tests approximating low- and high-speed frontal impacts were conducted with 4 female postmortem human subjects (PMHS) restrained by a lap and shoulder belt in the right front passenger seat. The subjects were tested with and without a PRC.
Results: The PRC is effective in reducing forward motion of the PMHS pelvis and reduces the risk of injury due to lap belt loading in a high-speed frontal crash.
Conclusions: Although small sample size limits the utility of the study's findings, the results suggest that the PRC can limit pelvic forward motion and that pelvic injury due to PRC deployment is not likely.
Acknowledgments
Hyundai researchers Hyung Joo Kim, Sungrae Kim, and Inju Lee supported development of the study design with computer simulation results. Krystoffer Mroz, Autoliv Research, also conducted computer simulations to help define the study design and provided the PRCs and 3-point belt restraints. Analia Jarvis, Autoliv US (Technical Center), arranged the loan of a 5th percentile female and a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy used in preliminary tests. Matt Reed of UMTRI assisted with subject and belt positioning strategies. Tom Hartka assisted in PMHS instrument installation and other staff and students of the UVA Center for Applied Biomechanics contributed to the test preparation and data analysis. This work would not have been possible without the generous donation made by the study's test subjects and their survivors.
