Julie A. Mansfield

• PhD
• Professor (Assistant) at The Ohio State University

Objective: To quantify the head and chest injury metrics associated with a pediatric anthropomorphic test device (ATD) in rearward-facing infant child restraint system (CRS) models positioned directly behind a center console during frontal impact sled tests. Methods: Sled tests using the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213 frontal...

Objective: Varying initial belt torso contact (i.e., belt gap) on belt-positioning boosters may have implications for potential shoulder belt slip-off in low-speed evasive vehicle maneuvers and differences in dynamic outcomes in frontal sled tests. This study evaluated the influence of initial booster belt gap and belt fit conditions on the kinema...

div class="section abstract"> This study compared modern vehicle and booster geometries with relevant child anthropometries. Vehicle geometries (seat length, seat pan height, shoulder belt outlet height, and roof height) were obtained for 275 center and outboard rear seating positions of US vehicles (MY 2009–2022). Measurements of 85 US boosters (p...

div class="section abstract"> Forward-facing child restraint systems (FF CRS) and high-back boosters often contact the vehicle seat head restraint (HR) when installed, creating a gap between the back surface of the CRS and the vehicle seat. The effects of HR interference on dynamic CRS performance are not well documented. The objective of this stud...

div>Eighteen research posters were prepared and presented by student authors at the 18th Annual Injury Biomechanics Symposium. The posters covered a wide breadth of works-in-progress and recently completed projects. Topics included a variety of body regions and injury scenarios such as: Head: Defining the mass, center of mass, and anatomical coor...

div>Letter from the Special Issue Editors</div

Children assume a range of postures when utilising belt-positioning boosters, which may influence belt fit and have implications for dynamic performance. This study evaluates the belt fit and posture of children on boosters while assuming different postures: self-selected, holding device, and nominal. Children (n=25) were recruited (4-11 years, 103...

The shoulder girdle complex, through engagement with the seat belt, influences motor vehicle occupant upper body movement during frontal impacts, affecting the movement of the head and spine. The recently developed Large Omni-directional Child (LODC) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) was designed with flexible shoulder girdle structures that captur...

Research questions / objective: Test protocols evaluate restraint performance with pediatric ATDs placed in an ideal seating posture. However, real-world evidence suggests that ideal test conditions do not always reflect actual occupant positions. Prior studies have also shown that booster seat designs affect the position of the seatbelt around the...

Purpose: Marginalized and otherwise vulnerable groups remain at higher risk than their counterparts for not having all of their children appropriately restrained during vehicle trips. Little is known about potential sources of these disparities, however a commonly theorized factor has been where caregivers find or obtain information (i.e., their i...

div class="section abstract"> Child occupants have not been studied in far-side impacts as thoroughly as frontal or near side crash modes. The objective is to determine whether the installation method of child restraint systems (CRS) affects far-side crash performance. Twenty far-side impact sled tests were conducted with rear-facing (RF) CRS, forw...

Objective The aim of the current study was to quantify the head excursions of pediatric anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) seated in rearward-facing child restraint system (CRS) models during rear impact sled tests and compare to roof heights of vehicles in the current fleet to assess the possibility of head contact against the vehicle roof. Meth...

This study sought to evaluate the influence of initial belt torso contact (belt gap) and belt fit provided by belt-positioning booster seats on various kinematic and kinetic outcomes. Frontal crash tests (n=18) were conducted at a peak deceleration of 22.5±1.0 g using the Q-Series 6-year-old (Q6), Q-Series 10-year-old (Q10), and Large Omni Directio...

Objective: Cervical spine injuries in children under 10 frequently involve the craniocervical junction. In patients too small for conventional spinal instrumentation, treatment may involve placement of a halo orthotic, and these patients will frequently be discharged home in a halo orthotic. To date, little research has been done on the biomechanic...

Objectives: Child restraint systems (CRS) can be installed using the Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) system. Two different types of lower anchors (LA) are available on CRS in the United States: (1) traditional flexible webbing LA, or (2) rigid LA, which is similar to the European ISOFIX system. The objective of this study is to eval...

Objective: Previous studies have indicated that gap between the seatbelt and torso (reduced belt torso contact) for children on belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs) may lead to less torso engagement and increased likelihood of shoulder belt slip-off during evasive vehicle maneuvers, potentially increasing injury risk during crashes. However, curre...

Shoulder and lap belt scores have been previously quantified for anthropomorphic test devices on belt-positioning booster seats; however, they may not fully discriminate between good vs. poor dynamic outcomes. To determine the influence of initial belt fit and gap on dynamic outcomes, the ability of anthropomorphic test devices to represent realist...

Objectives The objective was to understand how the use or nonuse of the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system affects the performance of booster seats during frontal impacts. Methods Sixteen frontal impact sled tests were conducted at 24.8 ± 0.3 g and 50.1 ± 0.2 kph. A production vehicle seat buck was attached to the sled. Four hig...

Objectives The objective was to build and test an automated, interactive educational system to teach adults how to install a child restraint system (CRS) into a vehicle seat. Methods The automated feedback system (AFS) consisted of a mockup vehicle fixture, convertible CRS, and doll. Sensors were implemented into the equipment so that forward-faci...

div class="section abstract"> The objective is to determine whether responses and injury risks for pediatric occupants in child restraint systems (CRS) are affected by vehicle seat cushion stiffness and fore/aft cushion length. Eighteen sled tests were conducted using the Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213 frontal pulse (48 km/h). S...

Background: With active safety and automated vehicle features becoming more available, unanticipated pre-crash vehicle maneuvers, such as evasive swerving, may become more common, and they may influence the resulting effectiveness of occupant restraints, and consequently may affect injury risks associated with crashes. Therefore, the objective of...

Objective: Precrash occupant motion may affect head and trunk position and restraint performance in a subsequent crash, particularly for young children. Others have studied seat belt–restrained adult drivers and adult and adolescent passengers in precrash maneuvers. For younger children, optimal restraint includes a belt-positioning booster seat, w...

Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine whether specific child restraint system (CRS) or vehicle conditions improve top tether attachment rates during volunteer installations. Methods: A factorial randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate 4 different experimental categories: (1) Color of tether adjuster casing (black or re...

Objective: Emergency braking can potentially generate precrash occupant motion that may influence the effectiveness of restraints in the subsequent crash, particularly for rear-seated occupants who may be less aware of the impending crash. With the advent of automated emergency braking (AEB), the mechanism by which braking is achieved is changing,...

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine whether the amount of tension required for proper child restraint system (CRS) installation varies with lower anchor spacing and to determine whether nonexperts can produce adequate tension on wider-than-standard lower anchor configurations. Methods: CRSs were installed by certified child pas...

Objective: Few studies have looked at the effectiveness of the top tether during side impacts. In these studies, limited anthropomorphic test device (ATD) data were collected and/or few side impact scenarios were observed. The goal of this study was to further understand the effects of the top tether on ATD responses and child restraint system (CRS...

Objective Analyze booster and rear vehicle seat dimensions to identify the most frequent compatibility problems. Methods Measurements were collected from 40 high-back and backless boosters, and 95 left rear and center rear row seating positions in 50 modern vehicles. Dimensions were compared for 3800 booster/vehicle seat combinations. For validatio...

Objective: The objectives of this research are to develop a current overview of booster and rear vehicle seat dimensions and to predict potential compatibility problems across the US market as a whole. Methods: Measurements were collected from forty boosters, including high-back and backless models. Measurements were also collected from ninety-fiv...

Incomplete instrumentation and a lack of biofidelity in the extremities of the 6 year-old anthropomorphic test device (ATD) pose challenges when studying regions of the body known to interact with the vehicle interior. This study sought to compare a prototype Hybrid III 6 year-old ATD leg (ATD-LE), with a more biofidelic ankle and tibia load cell,...

Objective: Child restraint system (CRS) misuse is common and can have serious consequences to child safety. Physical incompatibilities between CRS and vehicles can complicate the installation process and may worsen CRS misuse rates. This study aims to identify the most common sources of incompatibility between representative groups of CRS and vehi...