Influence of Driver-Steering Wheel Distance on Multi-Body-Region Injury Outcomes in Frontal Crashes Using Finite Element Analysis

Polpity Arachchige Kavishanka Priyabasan Indrajith (Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Malaysia)
Muhammad Zahir Hassan (Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Malaysia)
Juffrizal Karjanto (Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Malaysia)

Automotive Experiences
Vol. 8 No. 3 (2025)

The objective of this paper was to investigate the influence of driver seating distance on injury outcome. The study employed controlled finite element analysis using a virtual dummy and a mid-sized sedan to examine the isolated effect of driver seating distance on injury severity. Three simulations were conducted by varying the seating distance from the closest position to the farthest position (corresponding horizontal positions from chest to steering distances 308 mm, 358 mm, and 408 mm, respectively), while maintaining an identical frontal crash into a rigid wall. Injury severity was analyzed using established biomechanical injury criteria, including Head Injury Criterion (HIC15) for head trauma, maximum rib deflection (Rmax) and Principal Component score for chest injury, anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and acetabulum forces for pelvic injury, and Tibia Index for lower extremity injury. The simulation results revealed that the driver's seating distance influenced the selected body regions in a distinct pattern. Contrary to the conventional assumption, the intermediate position produced the highest head injury risk (HIC15 = 824.5), compared to the closed position (HIC15 = 693.4) and the farthest position (HIC15 = 749.9). In the chest, the closest position (Rmax = 87.2mm) contributed 6.6% higher rib deflection than the farthest position (Rmax = 81.8mm). Conversely, pelvic loading (ASIS force) increased by 9.1% with increased seating distance (from the closest to the farthest position). Lower extremity injury risk was highest in the closest position due to early knee-dashboard contact. These results indicate that the distance between the driver and the steering wheel affects the injury risk to the occupant in a distinct manner rather than uniformly increasing or decreasing overall injury severity. The optimal seating position varies by body region due to differences in restraint system interaction timing, load distribution patterns, and contact mechanics, emphasizing the need for position-specific injury mitigation strategies.