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Non-neutral posture prior to impact is one of many factors thought to influence the onset and severity of whiplash associated disorders following low speed, rear impact collisions. The Graphical Articulated Total Body Model (GATB) is one simulation tool that has been used to investigate injury risk in rear impact collisions, though the model has not previously been validated for occupants in non-neutral postures. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the GATB model during low speed rear impacts in out-of-position postures, by comparing simulations to previously published volunteer head accelerations. Twelve simulations (four occupants in each of three postures) were performed. Results demonstrated good agreement between the GATB simulations and the volunteer kinematics, with a mean error for peak head acceleration of 3.4 ± 13%.

When vehicle-specific stiffness coefficients cannot be acquired, stiffness coefficient values that are representative of the desired vehicle type, class, wheelbase or weight are routinely used for accident reconstructions. Since the original compilation of representative vehicle stiffness data almost 20 years ago, changes in crash testing standards and other safety and technological improvements in vehicular design have affected vehicle stiffness. While generic frontal stiffness data have been recently updated to reflect these vehicular changes, rear and side stiffness data have not. Structural, geometric and inertial data for over 300 passenger cars and light trucks were collected. Among the vehicles targeted were the top-selling cars, SUVs, vans and pickups for model years 1990 to 2012. Results indicated that all vehicle types demonstrated increases in mean stiffness over the time period considered. SUVs were, on average, the stiffest vehicle type in the front, rear and side.