Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
27th International Scientific Conference on Transport Means 2023, Hybrid, Palanga, Litvanya, 4 - 06 Ekim 2023, cilt.1, ss.62-67
This paper outlines the dynamics of front-seat and rear-seat occupants in frontal and rear impacts, and then presents the latest improvements in front and rear seat safety. In the second and main part of this study, the safety of rear seats in rear impacts is explored regarding whiplash associated disorders in the neck. An improved rear seat design is proposed which involves two rigid torso-plates that extend from the seatback to the thorax and lumbar regions of the human torso. This improved rear seat includes a head restraint providing almost zero backset between the head and the head-restraint when the occupant is having a normal seating posture. The improved rear seat is dynamically assessed using the whiplash test protocol of EuroNCAP for front seats. The seat-occupant simulations show that the improved rear seat earns maximum points from all ten whiplash assessment criteria (except NIC which is within the limits) specified for front seats. Moreover, the improved rear seat shows high performance even for the very high severity crash pulse with a delta-V of 35 km/h which is not included in EuroNCAP whiplash test protocol. With good upper torso support from the seatback coupled with close head restraint support, very good performance from rear seats can be achieved.