Analysis of Abdominal Injuries in Obese and Nonobese Restrained Occupants

This study clarified the effect of body physique to abdominal injury distribution in terms of frontal passengers at frontal collision using NASS/CDS database with medical knowledge and engineering analysis. Present research based on the real-world accident data showed that distribution and severity of abdominal injuries of the restrained front seat occupants in frontal collisions was reflected by the body physique. Obese occupants tend to suffer from the injuries of middle-lower abdomen owing to the seatbelt compression. From the reconstruction of the occupants’ kinematics, severity of abdominal injuries largely depended on the pelvic displacement in both obese and nonobese occupants. Therefore, to decrease the severity of abdominal injuries, knee airbag is one of considered proper devices as restraint systems for controlling pelvic displacement. The result of frontal collision simulation with human model THUMS with various body physiques clearly shows that the mechanism and the effects of reduction of abdominal injuries.