Fully-Adaptive Seatbelts for Frontal Collisions

The goal of this paper was to demonstrate the potential for a fully adaptive restraint system to significantly reduce injuries. To accomplish this, a three-bodied model of a 50th percentile Anthropometric Test Dummy (ATD) in a 35 mph frontal collision was made using Lagrangian Dynamics. The model was verified against test data obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Viscoelastic and constant force seatbelt models were created, and the results were compared for a 1998 Chevy Malibu. The simulation accurately reproduced the shape and magnitude of pelvis, chest, and head accelerations. The constant force seatbelt reduced pelvis, chest, and head accelerations by 56%, 62%, and 63%, respectively. The peak lap belt force was reduced by 60%. Relative head rotation was reduced by 16 degrees. A simple control concept was explored and demonstrated the feasibility of an adaptive constant force restraint system. Such restraint systems can make large reductions to risk of injury by significantly reducing forces and accelerations on the occupant.