Abstract
There is an ongoing debate as to whether the rebound phase in a low severity rear impact could be responsible for whiplash injuries (AIS 1 neck injuries). In order to reduce the rebound, an understanding of seat and dummy rebound characteristics is important. The aim of the study was to determine how six different car seat components influence the dummy rebound. This was achieved by means of sled tests with the BioRID. Fourteen tests with seats based on Volvos WHIPS seat were performed to determine the rebound characteristics of six seat components. Also three tests in an R16 seat (as used in an ECE-R16 test) were performed to evaluate the rebound characteristics of the BioRID. All tests were performed at a Delta-V of 16.5 km/h and 8 g. The analysis focused on the dummy readings that were influenced by the dummy seat belt interaction in the rebound phase. Therefore, depending on the test, the initial 120-190 ms were not taken into account. The results showed that a seat with force controlled yielding greatly reduces the seat belt dummy interaction. The injury criteria Nij and upper neck moment were well below the suggested thresholds for AIS3+ and AIS1 in the rebound phase examined. The dummy rebound was influenced by all six assessed seat components (WHIPS recliners, seat back frame, head restraint, spring package in the seat back, seat cushion and seat back foam).