Mechanisms of chest injuries from steering wheel intrusion in frontal collisions

Frontal collisions are the most common traffic accidents, during which drivers without properly using seat belts may be impacted by the steering wheel. Given the different driving habits and steering shaft angles, it is imperative to investigate the range of driver injuries incurred by the steering wheel from different angles. This study analyzed the driver’s thoracoabdominal injuries using the control variable method and represented them in a simulation matrix format. In addition, a GHBMC human model was utilized to simulate the thoracoabdominal injuries. The thoracoabdominal injury mechanism of the driver was investigated through simulation experiments at the steering shaft angles of 30°, 35°, 40°, and 45°. Two different seat shapes were analyzed to examine the influence of seat shapes on the driver’s movement during collisions. The results showed that the thoracic stress maximized at 1.051 GPa under the steering shaft angle of 40°. The curve fitting function was derived based on logistic regression to clarify the relationship between the steering shaft angle and maximum thorax compression. Subsequently, this function was employed to quantify the maximum compression at the steering shaft angle of 44°. The findings indicate that seat shape variations significantly influence chest compression during frontal collisions. From a passive safety perspective, improving seat shape and adjusting the steering shaft angle provides a significant reference value for reducing driver injuries.