November Research Rundown

Chairman's Welcome

In this issue

During the last six months AIMSS has been consolidating its on-going research projects and bringing some to completion. Discussions are already in hand on future projects, the implementation of which will depend on appropriate funding.

The Clipsal studies

What have become known as the “Clipsal studies” are a pair of research projects, undertaken at the 2008 and 2009 Clipsal 500 meetings in Adelaide. The purpose of both studies was to assess the potential impact of the motor sport environment on human performance at an Australian motor sport endurance event. Ambient temperatures and exhaust gas concentrations including carbon monoxide were recorded in the pit area and inside vehicles during the event. Driver physiological parameters including body core temperatures, hydration status and weight loss were recorded over the race weekend. Driver core body temperatures were found to rise significantly during the races, with cabin temperatures between 45 and 48 degrees. It was also found that while most drivers maintained a satisfactory level of hydration, some did not, and an even greater level of awareness was necessary.

The 2009 study generally duplicated that conducted in 2008, and was conducted in order to examine whether a change in fuel to an alcohol-based mix brought about a change in environmental exposure to exhaust gases. A lesser exposure in the pits to carbon monoxide was established, but there was relatively little difference for drivers.

AIMSS work in this field has brought about world-wide interest, and at the request of medical researchers the equipment used for the Clipsal studies was recently shipped to Britain for similar studies there. AIMSS intends to follow up this work by conducting tests on filtering equipment used by teams to minimise exposure to carbon monoxide.

Touring car crash testing

Very few full-scale crash tests of race cars have ever been conducted. With the financial support of the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety, AIMSS is currently building a closed racing car with the general configuration of a V8 Supercar. The intention is to crash test at high speed the completed vehicle in an extremely sophisticated manner, using a crash test barrier that is able to measure forces at every point of the impact.

Having completed this stage of the research, a crash test trolley will be constructed in way that reproduces the distribution of forces imposed on the barrier by the crash test car. The trolley will then be crashed into the side of a second race car to be built by AIMSS. Side impact is the most dangerous kind of crash, on the track and on the road.

The results of this testing will be of enormous interest and assistance for all involved in the design and construction of most types and configurations of closed race cars. The crash test cars will be fully instrumented and carry human-like dummies that measure the forces on the body in these high-speed impacts. Most motor sport safety research has direct relevance to road safety, and no more so than in this series of studies.

Benefit-cost analysis

It is obvious that greater safety costs money, just as does better car performance and greater speed. The question is, how much do you want to spend? AIMSS is very conscious that, in the end, resources are limited, however desirable the goal. It was with this thought in mind that AIMSS conducted a series of crash-simulating tests on race harnesses to examine whether their useful life (for non-international competition) might be extended to ten years, from the pre-existing mandatory five years. The conclusion was that this longer “life” would not degrade protection, and thus the cost of safety for the competitor would be reduced without reducing the benefit of the equipment.

AIMSS is now taking this kind of analysis to a much higher level, and under contract to the FIA Institute is examining the feasibility of applying benefit-cost analysis to all kinds of new and proposed safety measures, at all levels and categories of competitive motor sport. The hope is that such analysis will ensure the most effective distribution of safety resources. Again, this is a ground-breaking study with implications extending from international to club levels of the sport.

Data collection and analysis

Motor sport has never been very good at the collection and analysis of mass statistical safety data, yet this is vital to the setting of priorities and the evaluation of safety measures. As a step towards the better collection of such data, AIMSS recently completed a “snapshot” study and analysis of all incidents reported to CAMS over a one-year period. The study confirmed the findings of similar overseas research that showed a high incidence of neck injury, although fortunately mostly of a low-severity soft-tissue nature. The study report identified several ways that the collection of such data could be improved, and discussions with CAMS have been initiated in this regard.

AIMSS has access to a unique collection of data on motorsport fatalities, world wide, and the chairman was recently requested to assist the FIA Safety Commission’s review of “flying object” incidents, such as those that caused the death of Henry Surtees and the injury to Felipe Massa. Once assembled, the data confirmed that these incidents are rare but could have devastating results, and the Safety Commission is considering whether there are any practicable ways to prevent or mitigate them.

Fracture of the base of the skull

One of the most devastating injuries in both road and race crashes is fracture of the base of the skull. Indeed, the main purpose of forward head restraint systems (such as the HANS) is to prevent these fractures. AIMSS believes that the precise mechanism of these fractures is open to more detailed analysis than has so far been undertaken, perhaps extending to computer modelling. AIMSS is fortunate to have two experts with international research experience in this field on its Board and Research Advisory Group, Professor Jack McLean and Dr Tom Gibson, and is currently reviewing the scientific literature to consider the next steps.

Educational activities

The charter of AIMSS includes education as well as research. Many will remember that AIMSS organised and ran the country’s first motor sport safety seminar, with its report published early last year. Also last year, AIMSS ran several workshops on personal protective equipment including harnesses, seats and head restraint devices.

More recently, following the findings of the Clipsal studies noted above, CAMS used the AIMSS research as a basis for the “Clear to Steer” campaign, aimed at ensuring that all involved in the sport – officials as well as competitors – maintain full hydration as a step to optimum performance.

AIMSS is very receptive to ideas from anyone in the sport who has a view on what educational activities would be valuable in the search for greater safety.

Membership

AIMSS does receive some individual project funding from the FIA, but for its ongoing activities it depends on membership fees received from the industry and individuals, and a small optional levy on the competition licence. For those who have received this newsletter, are interested in what we are doing and are not yet members, benefits include more detail on the projects and access to full research reports when published. Please consider becoming a member of AIMSS. Contact Jonathan Cooper, Manager, Member Relations for AIMSS, for more information and details, or go to www.aimss.com.au.