Evaluating the response of the PIPER scalable human body model across child restraining seats in simulated frontal crashes

Abstract

Objective: Booster seats ensure appropriate belt fit for children that a traditional vehicle seat belt cannot offer to small occupants. In this study, the responses of the PIPER 6-year-old human body model are compared to the traditional Q6 anthropomorphic test dummy (ATD).

Methods: Eight frontal impact finite element simulations were run using 4 different child restraining systems on the FMVSS 213 test bench. Kinematics and kinetics were extracted and compared between the 2 child models.

Results: The PIPER 6-year-old showed variation by 11.2 ± 14.1% (head resultant acceleration, G), 20.4 ± 50.3% (chest resultant acceleration, G), 272.9 ± 188.4% (chest displacement, mm), 24.8 ± 17.5% (maximum head excursion, mm), −31.5 ± 5.1% (neck force, F_z, N), −73.8 ± 2.8% (neck moment, M_y, N.m), and −60.4 ± 7.2% (N_ij) compared to the Q6. However, the kinematics of both models were nearly similar.

Conclusions: The PIPER model has a flexible neck and shows higher chest displacement compared to the Q6. We hypothesize that this is due to the inherent anatomical and mechanical differences between the human body model and the ATD model. More research is needed to explore these differences systematically.

Keywords:

• PIPER
• Q6
• human body model
• finite element
• child occupant safety
• FMVSS 213

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies I/UCRC at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Ohio State University (OSU) for sponsoring this study and its Industry Advisory Board (IAB) members for their support, valuable input, and advice. The views presented here are solely those of the authors and not necessarily the views of CHOP, CIRP, OSU, the NSF, or the IAB members.