Review of Research on Thoracic Impact Tolerance and Injury Criteria Related to Occupant Protection 820480

The technical and scientific literature dealing with thoracic injury, to or within the rib cage, from blunt loading is reviewed. The history of the development of associated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is reviewed from the aspect of its relationship to the history of development of the research information. Field case data from car-to-car and car-to-tree/pole crashes has been examined and summarized. This study suggests that the laboratory research has not adequately covered the principal variables found to exist in actual injury cases. Specifically, more research attention should be given to the shape of the impactor, to the loading location and direction, and to injuries in the contusion and/or laceration family. Correspondingly, the accident investigation process needs to be more sensitive to occupant/vehicle-interior interaction variables so that laboratory research can be properly guided.