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Calculating the force applied by a seat belt on a person at point of accident


Elite Engineer

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I'm trying to illustrate the importance of wearing a seat belt properly, specifically when people wear seat belts over their mid stomach,

instead of their pelvic girdle.  In figuring out the force applied to a passengers abdomen when the car hits an object and the person's inertia

drives them into the seat belt, is it necessary to the factor in the area of the seat belt? I'd think it would be important because of P = F/A. 

Hence the seat belt is maybe 2 inches in width, so it's going to produce way more damage that if it were 20 inches in width. 

 

Also, how would you calculate the force of the person moving forward? Just a standard momentum calculation?

 

~ee

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, fiveworlds said:

There is way too many variables. You'd need to know everything about the vehicle.

Give me a handful of variables. I'm not trying to test the effectiveness of a seat belt. Just trying to get a "close" average of the forces applied to the passenger 

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