| The purpose of this study was to develop a preliminary design for an energy absorbing wheelchair caster with the intent to reduce injury risk to wheelchair-seated occupants exposed to frontal impacts while traveling in motor vehicles. Firstly, the influence of caster stiffness and energy absorbing properties on wheelchair/occupant kinematics was studied by performing a parametric analysis on a previously validated, frontal impact computer simulation model. This analysis helped establish limiting values in terms of caster stiffnesses that could possibly allow for energy absorption without increasing the wheelchair occupant's injury risk by allowing lap belt submarining.;Several energy absorbing wheelchair caster designs were developed and evaluated utilizing finite element analysis (FEA). Developed designs were considered satisfactory, based on the stresses and deformations recorded during the FEA. Following this, satisfactory caster designs prototypes were analyzed for their performance under dynamic physical testing conditions that simulate frontal impact loading. The FEA and physical testing results for the caster prototypes helped establish strengths and weaknesses in the caster designs.;Additionally, the development and validation of a frontal impact, wheelchair/occupant computer simulation model performed in this study would serve as a tool to help further the design of the energy absorbing wheelchair caster. This computer model will allow for caster design optimization to maximize crash energy absorption while maintaining suitable occupant kinematics. |
