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Characteristics of Human Responses in a Braked Stationary Lead Vehicle during Low-Speed, Rear-End Collisions

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Abstract

The main aim of this study was to identify whether braking force applied to a stationary lead vehicle in low-speed, rear-end collisions should be considered for whiplash injury mechanism assessment and safety system development. A three-dimensional motion capture system with eight infrared cameras and a wireless surface electromyogram were used to quantify the kinematic, moment, and muscle activation characteristics of the neck joint during low-speed, rear-end collision tests. The maximum angles of the neck joint did not differ significantly during the tests with and without the applied braking force during low-speed, rear-end collisions (p > 0.05). However, the angular velocity of the neck joint with the braking force applied was higher than without the applied braking force (p < 0.05). The maximum moments of the neck joint when the braking force was applied were generally 1.4 ± 0.2 times higher than those without the braking force (p < 0.05). The muscle activations of the sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis under braked conditions were 1.2 ± 0.1 and 1.5 ± 0.2 times higher than those without braking, respectively (p < 0.05). The results indicate that braking force applied to the stationary lead vehicle during a low-speed, rear-end collision should be considered for whiplash injury mechanism assessment and safety system development.

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Abbreviations

NIC:

Neck injury criterion

ΔV:

Velocity change

EMG:

Electromyogram

MVC:

Maximum voluntary contraction

BMI:

Body mass index

3D:

Three-dimensional

RMS:

 Root mean square

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Institute for Information & Communications Technology Promotion (IITP) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No. 2016-0-00452) and the Hyundai-NGV grant funded by the Hyundai Motor Group, Republic of Korea.

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Author notes

  1. JiHye Han and Hyung Joo Kim contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea

    JiHye Han, Leeyong Song & Dohyung Lim

  2. Automotive Research and Development Division, Hyundai Motor Group, Uiwang, 16082, Republic of Korea

    Hyung Joo Kim

  3. Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju, 26493, Republic of Korea

    Hansung Kim

  4. Dental Life Science Research Institute, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea

    Bongju Kim

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  1. JiHye Han
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Han, J., Kim, H., Song, L. et al. Characteristics of Human Responses in a Braked Stationary Lead Vehicle during Low-Speed, Rear-End Collisions. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 20, 1255–1264 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-019-00070-8

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