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The Head and Neck Support device (HANS) was developed to reduce the potentially injurious motions to the head and neck during severe frontal and angled-frontal impacts. The effectiveness of the HANS device has been rigorously proven by extensive HyGe sled test work by Daimler-Chrysler (Germany) and reported in two SAE papers (1,2). The aim of this work was to develop appropriate test methodologies and criteria for a new FIA Test Specification to support the integration of the HANS system into the FIA Formula One and Formula 3000 Championships. The new test specification includes requirements for both the HANS system and the HANS to helmet interface. It was also necessary to formulate an objective geometrical definition for the HANS system. The laboratory test configuration was developed to simulate the loading conditions during a dynamic sled test. TRL conducted both proof and destructive tests, in order to establish appropriate criteria.

This study evaluated the response of restrained post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) in 40 km/h frontal sled tests. Eight male PMHS were restrained on a rigid planar seat by a custom 3-point shoulder and lap belt. A video motion tracking system measured three-dimensional trajectories of multiple skeletal sites on the torso allowing quantification of ribcage deformation. Anterior and superior displacement of the lower ribcage may have contributed to sternal fractures occurring early in the event, at displacement levels below those typically considered injurious, suggesting that fracture risk is not fully described by traditional definitions of chest deformation. The methodology presented here produced novel kinematic data that will be useful in developing biofidelic human models.