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Technical Paper

Application of Energy-Absorbing Foam to the Seat Base to Mitigate Whiplash Injuries in Rear End Collisions

2011-04-12
2011-01-0271
Rear end collisions account for approximately $9 billion annually in the United States alone. These types of collisions account for nearly 30% of all vehicle impacts making them the most common type. Soft tissue injury to the neck (i.e. “whiplash”) is typically associated with this type of collision due to the occupant dynamics of the passengers in the struck vehicle. At low relative impact velocities, whiplash-type injuries are known to occur but are typically attributed to: 1) improper seat adjustment, 2) an “out-of-position” event, or 3) a low injury threshold due to age, gender, etc. In high impact collisions, both whiplash and occupant ejection can take place, the latter placing far greater risk of injury not only to the front seat occupant, but also to any rear seat passengers as well. The automobile seating system is the predominant safety device employed to protect the occupant during these types of collisions.
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