FE analysis of child occupant kinematics in CRS in side oblique impact

Abstract

Finite element (FE) simulations were conducted of full-car oblique side collision with a Hybrid III 3-year-old dummy and a child FE model seated in a child restraint system (CRS). Although the head of the Hybrid III 3-year-old did not have contact with the door, the head of the child FE model impacted the side of the door window sill. In the real world, the misuse of the CRS is observed frequently. A prescribed structural motion method was used to evaluate efficiently the influence of slack of the CRS harness and car seat belt. The CRS harness slack made the head of the child FE model impact on the top of the door window sill at a high velocity, and the head injury criterion (HIC) was comparable with the injury assessment reference value (IARV). It was found that the CRS harness slack can be one of the important factors of severe head injuries due to contact with the car interior, which is observed frequently in accidents.

Keywords:

• occupant protection
• restraint system
• side impact
• child restraint system