Injuries in Full-Scale Vehicle Side Impact Moving Deformable Barrier and Pole Tests Using Postmortem Human Subjects

Objective: To conduct near-side moving deformable barrier (MDB) and pole tests with postmortem human subjects (PMHS) in full-scale modern vehicles, document and score injuries, and examine the potential for angled chest loading in these tests to serve as a data set for dummy biofidelity evaluations and computational modeling.

Methods: Two PMHS (outboard left front and rear seat occupants) for MDB and one PMHS (outboard left front seat occupant) for pole tests were used. Both tests used sedan-type vehicles from same manufacturer with side airbags. Pretest x-ray and computed tomography (CT) images were obtained. Three-point belt-restrained surrogates were positioned in respective outboard seats. Accelerometers were secured to T1, T6, and T12 spines; sternum and pelvis; seat tracks; floor; center of gravity; and MDB. Load cells were used on the pole. Biomechanical data were gathered at 20 kHz. Outboard and inboard high-speed cameras were used for kinematics. X-rays and CT images were taken and autopsy was done following the test. The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2005 scoring scheme was used to score injuries.

Results: MDB test: male (front seat) and female (rear seat) PMHS occupant demographics: 52 and 57 years, 177 and 166 cm stature, 78 and 65 kg total body mass. Demographics of the PMHS occupant in the pole test: male, 26 years, 179 cm stature, and 84 kg total body mass. Front seat PMHS in MDB test: 6 near-side rib fractures (AIS = 3): 160–265 mm vertically from suprasternal notch and 40–80 mm circumferentially from center of sternum. Left rear seat PMHS responded with multiple bilateral rib fractures: 9 on the near side and 5 on the contralateral side (AIS = 3). One rib fractured twice. On the near and contralateral sides, fractures were 30–210 and 20–105 mm vertically from the suprasternal notch and 90–200 and 55–135 mm circumferentially from the center of sternum. A fracture of the left intertrochanteric crest occurred (AIS = 3). Pole test PMHS had one near-side third rib fracture. Thoracic accelerations of the 2 occupants were different in the MDB test. Though both occupants sustained positive and negative x-accelerations to the sternum, peak magnitudes and relative changes were greater for the rear than the front seat occupant. Magnitudes of the thoracic and sternum accelerations were lower in the pole test.

Conclusions: This is the first study to use PMHS occupants in MDB and pole tests in the same recent model year vehicles with side airbag and head curtain restraints. Injuries to the unilateral thorax for the front seat PMHS in contrast to the bilateral thorax and hip for the rear seat occupant in the MDB test indicate the effects of impact on the seating location and restraint system. Posterolateral locations of fractures to the front seat PMHS are attributed to constrained kinematics of occupant interaction with torso side airbag restraint system. Angled loading to the rear seat occupant from coupled sagittal and coronal accelerations of the sternum representing anterior thorax loading contributed to bilateral fractures. Inward bending initiated by the distal femur complex resulting in adduction of ipsilateral lower extremity resulted in intertrochanteric fracture to the rear seat occupant. These results serve as a data set for evaluating the biofidelity of the WorldSID and federalized side impact dummies and assist in validating human body computational models, which are increasingly used in crashworthiness studies.     

Trace elements in particulate matter of ambient air at petroleum filling stations

Size segregated suspended particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM_10-2.5) in air at four major petroleum-filling stations in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were monitored using double staged “Gent” stacked samplers to assess variations in mass loads and elemental concentrations of 25 elements. Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Cs, Ta, W, and Pb were determined in both fractions by external ion beam proton-induced X-ray emission technique. Enrichment factors and pollution indices were calculated and results revealed that most elements were anthropogenic in both fractions with concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization guideline standards.     

小煤柱巷道围岩变形的力学机理及演化过程研究

为研究小煤柱巷道围岩变形力学机理与演化过程,以石槽村矿某回风巷为研究对象,采用理论分析、FLAC3D数值模拟以及现场实测等方法,分析小煤柱条件下巷道围岩变形的主要影响因素以及表征特点。研究结果表明:侧压系数为巷道围岩变形的主控因素;侧压系数与巷道顶底板位移量呈正比关系,与两帮位移量呈反比关系;回风巷每次受采动影响时,变形可分为巷道稳定阶段、位移分化阶段以及位移加速变化阶段;围岩变形主要发生在一次采动影响时,此时巷道变形呈现明显的不对称,左右两帮的位移量差异明显,巷道的中心位置明显偏移。研究结果可为小煤柱巷道围岩支护提供技术参考。     

Air Quality Monitoring and Management in Lisbon

The environmental decision-making process is related with the interpretation of data both in spatial and temporal dimensions. This paper presents a methodology that integrates the time-space framework of air quality data to infer the temporal pattern and spatial variability that could be interpreted for environmental decision purposes. Variograms that accommodate time and space lags were used for the analysis and proved to be effective. Its environmental meaning, in particular its relationship with traffic patterns is discussed. Data from air quality monitoring stations located in the central part of Lisbon were used in this study. It describes a strategy to identify the type of vehicles responsible for certain pollutant levels, particularly for nitrogen oxides, and discusses the application of new air quality European legislation to the city of Lisbon, Portugal.     

沥青涂层对桩侧摩阻力影响的试验研究

采用改进直剪仪模拟桩与土之间的滑动摩擦,研究了沥青涂层对桩侧摩阻力的影响。试验结果表明,桩侧摩阻力与土的类型、法向应力有关,随着法向应力的增长,滑动摩阻力也相应增长,且增长近似呈线性关系;在一定的法向应力下,沥青涂层对减小滑动摩阻力有一定的作用,随着法向应力的增长,沥青涂层亦会导致滑动摩阻力增加。     

“8·29”充装台充装现场氧气瓶爆炸事故原因分析

介绍了较为少见的充装台充装过程中氧气瓶爆炸事故,描述了事故爆炸后的现场。对爆炸气瓶碎片进行化学成分分析、机械性能、金相试验、内壁附着物化学成分分析和能谱分析。通过分析认定,由于误操作油脂混进氧气瓶,高压氧气和油脂接触发生剧烈的自燃氧化放热,使瓶内的氧气迅速升温升压,超出气瓶承压极限导致气瓶爆炸。结合工作经验,提出要严格气瓶充装前的检验,加强气瓶使用和经销单位的安全监管等防范措施和建议,对氧气瓶的安全管理具有参考价值和实际意义。     

深井开采巷旁充填沿空留巷围岩活动规律研究

随着我国煤矿开采深度的逐年增加,瓦斯含量逐渐增大且赋存异常,回采工作面瓦斯超限问题严重威胁着煤矿的安全生产,而沿空留巷则是解决工作面瓦斯超限问题的最有效途径,但沿空留巷顶板稳定性控制问题则制约了沿空留巷技术在我国更广泛地推广应用。本文以顾桥矿1115(1)采煤工作面沿空留巷的成功案例为背景,全面研究分析了沿空留巷围岩活动的基本规律,对类似条件下的沿空留巷围岩控制具有重要的指导意义,使沿空留巷技术在我国得到更广泛的推广应用具有积极的现实意义。     

煤矿高浓度胶结充填系统可靠性评价研究

煤矿充填系统可靠性受多种不确定因素影响.通过对影响东庞矿高浓度胶结充填系统可靠性主要因素的分析,综合考虑各因素随机性、模糊性特点,利用层次分析法(AHP)建立充填系统可靠性模糊综合评价模型并确定各指标因素权重,运用模糊数学理论确定隶属矩阵和模糊综合评价法得到充填系统可靠性综合评判向量,按照最大隶属度原则确定此充填系统可靠性为“较稳定”等级.经充填工业性试验开采验证,系统可靠性模糊评价模型的建立是合理有效、结果符合实际情况的.     

超前支架迈步过程稳定控制方法研究

为提高巷道超前支架迈步前移过程的稳定性和安全性,建立一种基于液压油液体积平均释放原则的迈步稳定控制方法。用软件仿真及样机实测的方法,检验所提出控制方法的控制效果。结果表明,与传统的直线、对数曲线、指数曲线的阀芯位移控制方法相比,应用所建立的方法,设备迈步过程支撑力波动最小,稳定过程耗时最短,为2.2 s,顶板变形量最小,最大值约为4.74 mm。而采用对数曲线控制方式效果最差,稳定过程耗时3.8 s,顶板变形量最大值达到9.48 mm。     

THOR dummy chest deflection response in oblique and lateral far-side sled tests

Abstract

Objective: The focus of this study is side impact. Though occupant injury assessment and protection in nearside impacts has received considerable attention and safety standards have been promulgated, field studies show that a majority of far-side occupant injuries are focused on the head and thorax. The 50th percentile male Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint (THOR) has been used in oblique and lateral far-side impact sled tests, and regional body accelerations and forces and moments recorded by load cells have been previously reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the chestband-based deflection responses from these tests.

Methods: The 3-point belt–restrained 50th percentile male THOR dummy was seated upright in a buck consisting of a rigid flat seat, simulated center console, dashboard, far-side side door structure, and armrest. It was designed to conduct pure lateral and oblique impacts. The center console, dashboard, simulated door structure, and armrest were covered with energy-absorbing materials. A center-mounted airbag was mounted to the right side of the seat. Two 59-gage chestbands were routed on the circumference of the thorax, with the upper and lower chestbands at the level of the third and sixth ribs, respectively, following the rib geometry. Oblique and pure lateral far-side impact tests with and without airbags were conducted at 8.3 m/s. Maximum chest deflections were computed by processing temporal contours using custom software and 3 methods: Procedures paralleling human cadaver studies, using the actual anchor point location and actual alignment of the InfraRed Telescoping Rods for the Assessment of Chest Compression (IR-TRACC) in the dummy on each aspect—that is, right or left,—and using the same anchor location of the internal sensor but determining the location of the peak chest deflection on the contour confined to the aspect of the sensor; these were termed the SD, ID, and TD metrics, respectively.

Results: All deformation contours at the upper and lower thorax levels and associated peak deflections are given for all tests. Briefly, the ID metrics were the lowest in magnitude for both pure lateral and oblique modes, regardless of the presence or absence of an airbag. This was followed by the TD metric, and the SD metric produced the greatest deflections.

Conclusion: The chestbands provide a unique opportunity to compute peak deflections that parallel current IR-TRACC-type deflections and allow computation of peak deflections independent of the initial point of attachment to the rib. The differing locations of the peak deflection vectors along the rib contours for different test conditions suggest that a priori attachment is less effective. Further, varying magnitudes of the differences between ID and TD metrics underscore the difficulty in extrapolating ID outputs under different conditions: Pure lateral versus oblique, airbag presence, and thoracic levels. Deflection measurements should, therefore, not be limited to an instrument that can only track from a fixed point. For improved predictions, these results suggest the need to investigate alternative techniques, such as optical methods to improve chest deflection measurements for far-side occupant injury assessment and mitigation.