An international film crew from Discovery Channel visited the new crash test impact facility at the University of Bolton to film high speed crash testing of a new pregnancy seat belt harness.
Professor Clive Chirwa,Chair of Automotive and Aerospace Structures and head of Bolton Automotive & Aerospace Research Group (BAARG www.bolton.ac.uk/bee/baarg||), said: 'We are delighted to welcome Discovery Channel to our new facility. It is an extension of our world-class crash testing and research centre. The University of Bolton is UK's leading research centre for crash studies, and is in the top ten research centres in the world in this field.'
The Discovery Channel team filmed testing of a new pregnancy seatbelt harness developed by inventor, and Bolton alumni, Stephen Weston. The seatbelt is being extensively tested by a team led by Professor Clive Chirwa who is a world distinguished academic in crashworthiness. The test rig can simulate various crash scenarios including 35 mile an hour impact into a rigid block. Precise comparisons of the results therewith can be made between outputs from a crash test dummy secured with a conventional seat belt; and when the pregnancy seatbelt harness (PSH) is used.
The PSH tested is one of several inventions under development by Stephen Weston and his team at his firm Reel and Shaft Handling Company.
Stephen Weston said: 'The testing is progressing extremely well and we expect to go to market within a year.'
The University boasts extensive, internationally renowned automotive, aerospace structures and materials' testing facilities. The new test rig combined with high speed cameras, specialist calibration and computer equipment, enables the team to extend their industry leading work. The International Journal of Crashworthiness is edited by Professor Chirwa and international visitors to Bolton's facilities include fellow academics and collaborators from automotive and aerospace companies as well as health and government representatives.
'Our international projects across Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan are promoting our expertise worldwide. For example, our new collaboration on a brand new project on Rollover, with The University of Washington Charlottesville, USA and the University of New South Wales, Australia including manufacturers and rule-makers will lead to the introduction of improvements to millions of US vehicles and endorsement by the US Government.'
The new facility extends the scope and reach of the research. Emmanuel Matsika, a researcher in BAARG, said: 'In this facility we can test and measure the effect of crashes on car occupants and carry out new research into the effect of all types of crashes on wheelchair users.'
Across the world many people already owe their lives to crashworthiness research and development at the University of Bolton.
'It's our contribution to science and safety; and it is an honour' said Professor Chirwa.