Women face a significantly higher risk of injury and fatality in car crashes compared to men, due in part to male-centric crash testing and seatbelt designs that fail to accommodate female anatomy.
This project addresses that gap by developing a safer, more inclusive seatbelt system. The proposed solution integrates an auxetic segment (a material that expands laterally when stretched) into a standard 3-point seatbelt layout.

This auxetic geometry increases the contact area between the belt and the occupant's body, reducing pressure and improving force distribution during a crash. The design was tested through CAD simulations in Fusion 360 and Ansys, as well as physical tensile tests on 3D-printed prototypes.

Results showed a 30.84% increase in lateral expansion, reducing concentrated pressure by approximately 23.6%. Directly addressing the higher risk of fatal chest and abdominal injuries that women face in crashes compared to men.

While not yet suitable for real crash loads, the concept demonstrates the potential of auxetic materials to improve safety, especially for underrepresented users in vehicle safety design.