A Preliminary Study of Occupant Kinematics and Injuries in a Frontal Crash with Occupant Face-to-Face Scenario

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper investigates a novel seating arrangement where occupants face each other, focusing on occupant safety during a 56 km/h frontal impact, a standard test condition for assessing crashworthiness.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">A preliminary study was carried out, examining three distinct cases: a forward-facing 50th percentile occupant in third row seat, a rear-facing 50th percentile occupant in second row seat, and the interaction between these two occupant orientations. The study utilized both elastic flexible and rigid seat designs to analyze the impact on occupant kinematics and injury outcomes.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The results demonstrate that the seating position has a significant influence on occupant injuries. Rear-facing occupants are primarily at risk due to seat design, whereas forward-facing occupants face a higher risk of injury from the increased space between occupants, lacking a reactive surface to mitigate impact forces. Notably, direct interaction between occupants did not result in severe injuries. However, interactions with the opposite seat structure did lead to lower extremity injuries.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The study employed the Human Body Model developed by Humanetics to simulate and assess injuries for both rear-facing and forward-facing occupants. Additionally, the relationship between rear-facing seats and the front seat was explored in the context of vehicle environment and its impact on occupant safety.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">This research underscores the need for careful consideration of seating arrangements in intelligent cockpit design, particularly in face-to-face configurations. Our findings suggest that, while face-to-face seating, occupant interaction and seat design are critical factors that must be addressed to ensure occupant safety.</div></div>