Effect of seat direction on sitting occupant injury risk and improving strategy in the commuter train frontal crash

This study aims to analyse the dynamic response of occupant posture during the frontal collision of commuter train. Six occupants with different postures seating in three types of seats were introduced to compare their injuries. The results show that the injury values of the occupant in the forward-facing seat and at the rear end of the side-facing seat were beyond the requirements of GM/RT2100. As a result, the forward-facing seat was recommended to be designed as rotated seat, rotatable seat with headrest, or install two-point and three-point seat belt. And then handrail and partition were recommended to be installed in the side-facing seat. It can be found that the proposed strategies such as rotatable seat without headrest, three-point seat belt, and handrail with suitable height were effective to improve occupant safety. The findings are expected to provide recommendations for seat direction in commuter train to improve occupant safety during frontal collision event.