Biodynamic Assessment of Pilot Knee-Board Configurations During Simulated T-38 Catapult Acceleration

Abstract

The Aircrew Biodynamics and Protection (ABP) Team of AFRL (711 HPW/RHCPT) and their in-house technical support contractor, Infoscitex, conducted a short series of tests to support an objective analysis of determining injury risk to a pilot ejecting from a T-38 with current or proposed kneeboard technology. This effort was initiated to provide data to assist with ejection injury analysis in order to assess if there is additional risk associated with the proposed electronic kneeboard configuration compared to the paper kneeboard configuration. The proposed kneeboard configuration consisted of an Apple iPad Mini with a shock case. The T-38C ejection pulse was simulated using the Vertical Deceleration Tower (VDT) set-up with a Martin Baker Mk series ejection seat, and the pulse characteristics were determined based on measured seat pan accelerations recorded during the seat testing with both small and large manikins. The USAF currently accepts up to a 5% risk of injury to the spine during the catapult phase of ejection; therefore, this injury risk was also used for the kneeboard configuration comparisons. Data from the test series indicated the risk of using either kneeboard configuration (paper or EFB) was below 5% regardless of the size of the occupant. In general, the data indicated that larger occupants were at a lower risk than the small occupants with the larger occupants having a risk of femur fracture in the 2 to 3% range, and the small occupants having a risk of femur fracture in the 3.5 to 4.5% range. This was most likely due to the small occupants being exposed to a greater catapult acceleration based on the current seat installed in the aircraft. The observational data indicated that the current Velcro strap and the Buckle Clip Strap may not sufficiently support either kneeboard configuration regardless of occupant size; however, the larger occupant had issues with both configuration in the this test series.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2015
Accession Number
ADB410732

Entities

People

  • Chris Burneka
  • Chris Perry
  • Joseph Strzelecki

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Cameras
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Ejection Seats
  • Flight Crews
  • Flight Training
  • Impact Tests
  • Laboratory Tests
  • Pilots
  • Risk Analysis
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Facilities
  • Test Methods
  • Training
  • Training Aircraft

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Explosive Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems