In this study a modified sled system was used to produce toepan intrusion characteristic of frontal offset crashes. Toepan intrusion was translational and varied between 0 cm and 22 cm. The buck was configured as a mid-size vehicle with the occupant seated in the driver position. The Hybrid III dummy and post-mortem human subject occupants were restrained by three-point belts for all tests and driver airbags for some. Lower extremity loads were recorded by load cells mounted on the toepan and implanted in the tibias. Post-test radiographs of the subject lower extremities were used to identify skeletal injuries while detailed necropsies were performed to detect soft tissue injuries. The lower limb response and injuries were compared for varying magnitudes of toepan intrusion. The results indicate that the presence of toepan intrusion may increase the likelihood of lower limb injury but the timing and magnitude of the intrusion are also determining factors. (A)
Abstract