Zugl.: Dresden, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2007

Zugl.: Berlin, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2000.

Zugl.: Berlin, Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2000.

No description available.

Airbags save lives; however, first generation airbags resulted in unintended fatal and injurious consequences for children and small statured adults seated in front of them. An immediate solution allowed for the development of less aggressive airbags (second generation), a subsequent revision to FMVSS 208 required further changes to airbags for the protection of children. These advanced airbags are required to either suppress or with a LRD in the presence of a child. Though car manufacturers have spent a considerable amount of time and money to meet the advanced airbag requirements, the effects of these airbags and characteristics of children seated in front of them have not been extensively studied. This thesis presents the requirements for advanced airbags, characteristics of children in MVCs, an evaluation of crashes involving children involved in crashes in the RFP seat for all airbag types and finally a case study of children seated in front of an advanced airbag during a crash. Overall, vehicles with advanced airbags were found to be safer for children than vehicles equipped with earlier airbag generations including vehicles not equipped with airbags. These findings suggest that vehicles overall are safer since one option for an advanced airbag is suppression which would render the occupant without an airbag. Further, the advanced airbags appear to be working as intended during real-world crashes. However, the back seat remains the safest place for children; this work in no way advocates that children should be seated in the RFP seat. / Master of Science

Although airbags have reduced the incidence of fatal and severe injuries in automobile collisions, they have been shown to increase the risk of less severe injuries. The purpose of this research was to investigate particular occupants and injury types in automobile crashes in order to identify national trends in injury incidence, type, and severity. A statistical analysis was performed in order to determine the effects of airbag deployment on incidence and severity of various injury and occupant types. In addition, a computational modeling study aimed to recreate actual automobile crashes that occurred in order to identify injury mechanisms and occupant kinematics during the crash. The specific studies performed were designed to investigate the effects of frontal airbags on: skin injuries, burn injuries, eye injuries, orbital fractures, severe upper extremity injuries, and pregnant occupant injuries. The statistical analyses revealed several significant findings in injury trends related to occupant exposure to airbag deployment. In particular, occupants in frontal crashes were significantly at a higher risk to sustain a skin injury (p=0.00), a burn injury (p=0.02), a corneal abrasion (p=0.03), and a severe upper extremity injury (p=0.01) when exposed to an airbag deployment, than when not exposed to an airbag deployment. In addition, female occupants were at a statistically higher risk of sustaining an airbag induced skin injury than males (p=0.00). Finally, within a 95% confidence interval, older occupants were at a higher risk for sustaining both airbag induced burn injuries, and severe upper extremity injuries. While occupants in crashes with lower impact velocities were at a higher risk for airbag induced burn injuries, occupants in crashes with higher impact velocities were more likely to sustain a severe upper extremity injury. The airbag increased the incidence of eye injuries for occupants in frontal crashes, however, it also decreased the severity of the associated eye injuries. In particular, occupants who sustained an orbital fracture when exposed to airbag deployment sustained mostly closed, less severe orbital fractures, while occupants not exposed to airbag deployment much more often sustained more severe, open, displaced, or comminuted orbital fractures. While the airbag was shown to increase the risk of some injuries to particular occupants involved in specific crash types, the airbag appears to have provided a beneficial protective effect as it also reduced the severity of all injuries observed. / Master of Science

Airbags have been saving lives in automobile crashes for many years and are now being used in helicopters. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential for ocular injuries to helicopter pilots wearing night vision goggles when the airbag is deployed. A nonlinear finite element model of the human eye was constructed. Ocular structures never before included in finite element models of the eye, such as the fatty tissue, extraocular muscles, and bony orbit were included in this model. In addition, this model includes material properties up to rupture making the eye suitable for large deformation applications. The model was imported into Madymo and used to determine the worst-case position of a helicopter pilot wearing night vision goggles. This was evaluated as the greatest Von Mises stress in the eye when the airbag is deployed. The worst-case position was achieved by minimizing the distance between the eyes and goggles, having the occupant look directly into the airbag, and making initial contact with the airbag halfway through its full deployment. By removing the extraocular muscles, the stress sustained by the eye decreased. Simulations with both the goggles remaining fastened and breaking away from the aviator helmet were performed. Finally, placing a protective lens in front of the eyes was found to reduce the stress to the eye but increase the force experienced by the surrounding orbital bones. The finite element model of the eye proved effective at evaluating the experimental boundary conditions, and could be used in the future to evaluate impact loading on eyes that have been surgically corrected and to model the geometry of the orbital bones. / Master of Science

Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2006--München.

No description available.

No description available.