Identification of Injury Mechanisms Resulting in Injuries to the Upper Extremities in Frontal Crashes

摘要

This research study builds on previous research findings concerning upper-extremity/ airbag-interaction, and the use of average distal forearm speed (ADFS) model to predict direct-loading forearm fractures using static-deployment testing of steering wheel airbags. Initially, the performance and design of a less aggressive system (LAS) was compared to a more aggressive airbag system (MAS) in a series of aggressivity static deployments of airbags into the forearms of instrumented unembalmed cadaver subjects. Next, fracture incidence and severity from static airbag deployments were compared to those from tests in which an inertially generated preload was applied between the forearm and the driver airbag. Subsequent testing involved conducting additional static-deployment tests using a variety of depowered and pre-depowered airbags. Results of these tests provide additional information regarding the efficacy of ADFS as a predictor for forearm fracture, and relationships of forearm fracture and ADFS to upper-extremity mass, bone mineral content, proximity, and airbag design. These results were added to, and analyzed with, results of previous tests to develop a more robust threshold criterion of 10.5 m/s ADFS corresponding to 50% probability of forearm fracture. A series of tests was also conducted using simple, cylindrical masses to further examine the relationship between mass and speed. In addition, the research arm injury device (RAID), the instrumented SAE 5th female arm, and a Hybrid III 5th female arm were tested and evaluated with regard totheir ability to predict forearm-fracture aggressivity using the ADFS model. All of these surrogate arms were found to have potential for assessing airbag aggressivity using the ADFS approach.