Effectiveness of the head and neck support (HANS1) device in frontal impacts of CART cars: a CAE analysis Online publication date: Wed, 03-Aug-2005
by Para Weerappuli, Priya Prasad, Saeed Barbat
International Journal of Vehicle Safety (IJVS), Vol. 1, No. 1/2/3, 2005
Abstract: Results of a CAE (Madymo) analysis probing effectiveness of the HANS device in reducing injuries to open-wheel racecar drivers in frontal impacts are presented. The model utilised a typical impact pulse used in sled tests. Results show that the HANS device significantly reduces upper-neck shear, tension, and extension moment. These results agree with published test data. Upper-neck loads remain lower than the no-HANS case for a wide range of tether stiffness. The same is true for upper-neck shear and tension for increasing tether slack. Results are more sensitive to changes in slack than stiffness. The predicted head injury criterion is higher for drivers with the HANS device. This is attributable to tether forces at the time of engagement, the magnitude and duration of which depend on contact-interaction between head and helmet-inside. Further tests are needed to better estimate this interaction. Results also show that lowering friction on HANS surfaces reduces head-neck injury potential.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Vehicle Safety (IJVS):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com