Abstract |
New helmet-mounted devices (such as night-vision goggles, laser eye protection, etc.) have created new safety hazards for pilots during ejection or high G maneuvering. In order to prevent the resulting head/ neck injuries, this study extends the air-bag protection system developed for ground vehicles to a neck mounted system for aircrew personnel. Results, carried out by computer biodynamic simulations using the Articulated Total Body Model (ATB), showed that: 1) helmet weight had little effect on head/neck torque, contact force and flexion angle; 2) initial head/neck position and center of gravity offsets of the helmet-mounted devices had significant effects on head-neck torques, contact forces, and neck flexion angles; and 3) the neck mounted air bag significantly reduced neck torques, contact forces, and neck flexion angles. We conclude that the neck-mounted air bag system could significantly reduce the severity of head/ neck injuries to pilots during ejection or high G maneuvering.
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Authors | C M Lee, A Freivalds, S Y Lee |
Journal | Aviation, space, and environmental medicine
(Aviat Space Environ Med)
Vol. 62
Issue 8
Pg. 747-53
(Aug 1991)
ISSN: 0095-6562 [Print] United States |
PMID | 1930056
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Acceleration
- Aircraft
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Computer Simulation
- Craniocerebral Trauma
(prevention & control)
- Equipment Design
- Gravitation
- Head Protective Devices
- Humans
- Models, Anatomic
- Neck Injuries
- Weights and Measures
- Wounds and Injuries
(prevention & control)
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