The purpose of this study was to investigate the chestband use in side impact conditions by conducting validation experiments, and evaluating its feasibility by conducting a series of human cadaver tests under side impact crash scenarios. The chestband validation tests were conducted by wrapping the device around the thorax section of the Side Impact Dummy at its uppermost portion. The anthropomorphic test device was seated on a Teflon pad on a platform to accept side impact via a pendulum system. Deformation contours and histories were obtained using the chestband electronic signals in combination with the RBAND-PC software. These data were compared with the digital video information processed using a computer processed using a computer tracking system. The feasibility of the device to be used under side impact conditions isillustrated. Five unembalmed human cadavers were tested with varying input conditions. The surrogates were instrumented at three levels: (1) the upper band was just under the axilla at the level of rib 4; (2) the middle band was at the level of the xiphoid process anteriorly; and (3) the lower band was at the T10 level. The chestbands demonstrated consistency in the output from the upper, to the middle, to the lower levels, and from test-to-test indicating their robustness.
Abstract