The research investigated the effect of aging altered driving posture on injury criteria of the head (HIC15) and chest (peak
resultant chest acceleration) in low speed frontal impact. The aging altered driving postures were described in terms of body joint
angles. Older drivers exhibited smaller body joint angles meaning older drivers tended to sitting closer to the steering wheels compared
to their younger counterparts. A simplified anthropomorphic test dummy, sled rig, and impact pendulum were constructed as the necessary
testing apparatus for the low speed frontal impact sled test experiment. A fractional factorial design screened out the significant
factors that affect HIC15, and peak resultant chest acceleration. The results showed that for HIC15, torso angle, hip angle, right knee
angle, right ankle angle, and seatbelt pillar loop anchor height were the significant factors. For peak resultant chest acceleration torso
angle, right knee angle and left ankle angle were significant. Qualitatively, extended torso angles, meaning sitting more laid back,
increased both HIC15 and peak resultant chest acceleration. Left and right side of lower extremities altered HIC15 and peak resultant
chest acceleration separately. These findings may help to better understand biomechanical response of older drivers during car accidents
and provide useful information regarding safer vehicle design, such as occupant seat and seatbelt in an effort to mitigate
injuries. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in partial fulfillment of
the Master of Science. / Fall Semester 2016. / November 22, 2016. / driving posture, low speed frontal impact, sled test / Includes bibliographical references. / Sungmoon Jung, Professor Directing Thesis; John O. Sobanjo, Committee Member; Eren Erman Ozguven,
Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_405645 |
| Contributors | Xu, Ran (authoraut), Jung, Sungmoon (professor directing thesis), Sobanjo, John Olusegun, 1958- (committee member), Ozguven, Eren Erman (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Engineering (degree granting college), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (78 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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