Steering System Abdominal Impact Trauma

摘要

A series of impact tests to the abdomen and thorax of unembalmed cadavers was conducted using a rigid, curved steel bar to simulate the lower portion of the steering wheel rim. The test matrix used involved impacts to different regions of the thorax and abdomen at different impact velocities and with several low-velocity impacts on each subject prior to conducting high-velocity impact. These test conditions were originally established to investigate the effects of various test conditions (e.g., pressurization versus no pressurization) and variability in test results among subjects under similar conditions. Subsequent to data collection, the goals of the project were changed to focus on evaluation of different proposed injury criteria. The test results point out the importance of the location of the impact to liver injury, and provide new data on force-deflection characteristics for the mode of impact used in these tests.