2010-2011

Comparing FMVSS 213 Sled Test to the Full-scale Vehicle Crash Environment (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Matthew R. Maltese, PhD

The long-term goal of this study is to determine the effect of geometric and material modifications to the FMVSS 213 bench on the ability of the bench, used in regulatory sled testing, to replicate a real vehicle seat in a crash.

Injury Risk to Belted Occupants (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The objective of this study is to continue exploration of the injuries and their causation experienced by seat belt restrained occupants - both adults and children - in the rear seat in order to understand if pre-teens and adolescents are at an elevated risk.

2012-2013

Child Restraint System Misuse in the Field and in Full-Vehicle Crash Tests (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Mark R. Zonfrillo, MD, MSCE

The objectives of this research are to: (1) convert from paper to digital format and analyze the field misuse data from the Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project (PA TIPP) checkpoints, to further clarify behavior in the modern CRS consumer beyond what has been currently established, and (2) explain the performance of properly used and misused CRS in full-scale vehicle crashes, adding valuable data to previously published studies using…

Dynamic Comparison of Pediatric and the Small Female ATDs to Size-matched Pediatric Volunteers (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Thomas Seacrist, MBE

The goal of this research is to quantify the dynamic differences between pediatric and 5th percentile female ATDs and matched pediatric volunteers in low-speed lateral and oblique crashes and apply that knowledge towards improved ATD biofidelity requirements. Through synthesis of existing data and collection of new data, this project builds on several previous and current projects at the Center.

Quantifying CRS Fit in the Vehicle Seat Environment: Dimensional Comparison Approach

Principal Investigator: Julie Mansfield, PhD

The research goals of this study are to quantitatively define good fit of a child restraint system to a vehicle, to develop a correlation matrix to characterize good fit between various child restraint systems and vehicle seats; and to quantify any changes to child restraint system characteristics that influence good fit over time. 

Kinematics of Rear Seat Child Occupants in Small Overlap Crashes

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The long-term goal of this line of research is to gain insight into injury causation for common injuries seen by restrained occupants in the rear seat. The project objective is to quantify the kinematics of rear seat adolescent occupants in small overlap crashes and to explore the combination of crash dynamics and initial occupant position that leads to movement of head towards the lateral structures of the vehicle.

Injury Risk and Causation Scenarios of Children Involved in Rollover Crashes

Principal Investigator: Aditya Belwadi, PhD

The broad long-term goals of this research project are to gain insight into causation of common injuries sustained by children in rollover crashes; and to provide vehicle and restraint system manufacturers with data needed to develop rollover injury-mitigation systems for children.

Development and Validation of a Biofidelic Pediatric ATD Lower Extremity

Principal Investigator: Amanda Agnew, PhD

The goal of this study is to design and validate a prototype 6-year-old ATD lower extremity.

Analysis of Child Comfort in Forward-facing versus Rear-facing Child Restraint Systems

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

The long-term research goal of this project is to identify comfort level of larger, older children in rear-facing child restraints in order to support AAP and NHTSA guidelines. The specific aims of this study are: to identify variables for analyzing child seating position comfort (including parental perception); to analyze comfort and posture of young children (2-3 years old) in forward-facing and rear-facing child restraints; and to conduct a pilot…

Serious Teen Crashes: Identification of the Most Common Scenarios and Factors

Principal Investigator: Allison Curry, PhD

The long-term research goal of the project is to continue to build scientific foundation for interventions and evaluations that reduce teen driver crash and fatality risk by gaining a more comprehensive understanding of teen crashes, and exploring similarities and differences of teen vs. adult crash scenarios.

Serious Teen Crashes: Identification of the Most Common Scenarios and Factors

Principal Investigator: Catherine McDonald, PhD

The long-term research goal of the project is to continue to build scientific foundation for interventions and evaluations that reduce teen driver crash and fatality risk by gaining a more comprehensive understanding of teen crashes, and exploring similarities and differences of teen vs. adult crash scenarios.

Quantifying CRS Fit in the Vehicle Seat Environment: Dimensional Comparison Approach

Principal Investigator: Amanda Agnew, PhD

The research goals of this study are to quantitatively define good fit of a child restraint system to a vehicle, to develop a correlation matrix to characterize good fit between various child restraint systems and vehicle seats; and to quantify any changes to child restraint system characteristics that influence good fit over time. 

2013-2014

Motor Vehicle Crash-related Injury Causation Scenarios for Disabling Injuries in Children

Principal Investigator: Mark R. Zonfrillo, MD, MSCE

In the United States, injury is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In children, long term disability from trauma is far more common than death. Spinal cord injuries, either alone or in combination with other injuries, result in the most physical disability in children. The goal of the proposed line of research is to mitigate disabling crash-related spinal injuries in children by investigating the injury causation scenarios for…

Linking Adolescents’ Medical and Traffic Data: Creation of a Unique Database

Principal Investigator: Allison Curry, PhD

This study’s long-term goal is to create a unique longitudinal database of adolescents’ medical information and their traffic outcomes as drivers, and utilize this database to investigate driving outcomes for adolescents with relevant medical conditions (e.g., developmental disabilities).

Dynamic Comparison of Pediatric and the Small Female ATDs to Size-matched Pediatric Volunteers (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Thomas Seacrist, MBE

The goal of this research is to quantify the dynamic differences between pediatric and 5th percentile female ATDs and matched pediatric volunteers in low-speed lateral and oblique crashes and apply that knowledge towards improved ATD biofidelity requirements. Through synthesis of existing data and collection of new data, this project builds on several previous and current projects at the Center.

Comparison of Q3s ATD Biomechanical Responses to Pediatric Volunteers

Principal Investigator: Yun Seok Kang, PhD

The long-term goal of this study is to assess the biofidelity of the Q3s, a dummy developed specifically for lateral side impact testing in children, using existing human volunteer data such that safety tools for children can be designed and evaluated by using the biofidelic child ATD. This goal includes evaluation of the difference between the Q3s and the Hybrid III 3 year old ATD by comparison of kinematics and kinetics of the Q3s with those of the…

2011-2012

Biomechanical Response of the Pediatric Ankle

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

Data obtained in this study will provide information on the mechanics of the pediatric ankle joint. Using data regarding the geometry, range of motion, and static/dynamic responses of the ankle, the biofidelity of child ATDs can be improved. Accomplishing a biofidelic response in the child's ankle joint will improve the response of the entire lower extremity, resulting in more accurate prediction of pediatric injury.

Evaluation of Hyperthermia Prevention Technologies

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

The objective of this study is to evaluate countermeasures designed to prevent children 0 to 24 months of age from being left behind in closed, parked vehicles, which has the potential to result in hyperthermia.

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia  

Long-term Disability Following Pediatric Trauma

Principal Investigator: Mark R. Zonfrillo, MD, MSCE

The goal of the proposed study is to investigate the nature of the disabilities following pediatric injuries.

Injury Risk to Belted Occupants (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The objective of this study is to continue exploration of the injuries and their causation experienced by seat belt restrained occupants - both adults and children - in the rear seat in order to understand if pre-teens and adolescents are at an elevated risk.