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about us > the team > kim thai

Kim Thai

BE (Mtrn) MBiomedE

 

Senior Biomechanical Engineer, R&D Manager

 

Kim manages research and design projects at HIE. Her work with HIE has a special focus on impact testing, biomechanical analysis and design of personal protective equipment, with major projects in the areas of child restraints, motorcycle helmets, and protective vests. She holds a Bachelors degree in Mechatronics Engineering and Masters in Biomedical Engineering from the University of New South Wales and is currently completing her PhD research on test methods used in evaluating bicycle and motorcycle helmets at UNSW.

 

Areas of Specialisation

 

Accident reconstruction, injury analysis, personal protective equipment testing and evaluation

 

Research Activities

 

  • Test methods used in evaluating bicycle and motorcycle helmets

  • High performance jockey helmet development

  • Effectiveness of safety equipment in horse racing falls

  • Evaluation of protective equipment used by harness racing drivers

  • Motorcycle helmet protection and basilar skull fracture

  • Child restraint in Australian commercial aircraft

 

Select Publications and Reports

 

Thai, K.T., McIntosh, A.S., & Pang, T.Y. (2014). Factors affecting motorcycle helmet use: Size selection, stability and position. Traffic Injury Prevention. (accepted manuscript 10 June 2014) 

 

Thai, K.T., McIntosh, A.S., & Pang, T.Y. (2014). Bicycle helmet size, adjustment and stability. Traffic Injury Prevention. (accepted manuscript 3 June 2014) 

 

McIntosh, A.S., Patton, D.A., & Thai, K. (2012). Impact assessment of jockey helmet liner materials. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 226(3-4), 237-243.

 

Patton, D., McIntosh, A., & Thai, K. (2011). Development of a high performance jockey helmet. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(4), 319. 

 

Pang, T.Y., Thai, K.T., McIntosh, A.S., Grzebieta, R., Schilter, E., Dal Nevo, R., & Rechnitzer, G. (2011). Head and neck responses in oblique motorcycle helmet impacts: a novel laboratory test method. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 16(3), 297-307.

 

McIntosh, A.S., Pang, T.Y., Thai, K., Schilter, E., Rechnitzer, G., Finch, C.F., & McCrory, P. (2010). Crash characteristics of helmeted pedal cyclists. Paper presented at the 2010 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference (Aug 31 - Sep 3), Canberra.

 

Thai, K.T., Pang, T.Y., McIntosh, A.S., & Schilter, E. (2009). Helmet Stability and Fit in Australian Pedal and Motor Cyclist Populations. Paper presented at the 17th World Congress on Ergonomics (Aug 9-14), Beijing (China).

 

Thai, K.T., Pang, T.Y., & McIntosh, A.S. (2009). Comparison of helmet stability on headforms and human subjects. Paper presented at the 2009 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference (Nov 11-13), Sydney.

 

Pang, T.Y., Thai, K.T., Rankin, T., Curtis, K., Schilter, E., & McIntosh, A.S. (2009). Risk of Head, Facial and Neck Injury in Bicycle and Motorcycle Crashes in relation to Helmet Use. Paper presented at the 2009 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference (Nov 11-13), Sydney.

 

Pang, T.Y., Thai, K.T., & McIntosh, A.S. (2009). Head and Neck Dynamics in Helmeted Hybrid III Impacts. Paper presented at the 2009 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact (Sep 9-11), York (UK)

 

Pang, T.Y., Sakeran, H., Short, A., McIntosh, A.S., Rechnitzer, G., & Thai, K. (2008). Numerical analysis of real-world cyclist crashes: impact speed, collision mechanism and movement trajectories. Paper presented at the 2008 Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference (Nov 10-12), Adelaide.

 

Gibson, T., Thai, K., Saxon, J., & Pollock, R. (2008). The effectiveness of safety equipment in horse racing falls. Proceedings of the 2008 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact, Bern (Switzerland), 36, 453-456.

 

Gibson, T., Thai, K., & Anderson, R. (2007). Motorcycle helmet protection and basilar skull fracture. Journal of Biomechanics, 40(S2 (Proceedings of the XXI ISB Congress)), S92.

 

Gibson, T., & Thai, K. (2007). Helmet protection against basilar skull fracture - injury protection and helmet standards Road Safety Research Grant Report. Canberra: Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

 

Gibson, T., Thai, K., & Lumley, M. (2006). Child Restraint in Australian Commercial Aircraft Aviation Safety Research Grant Report. Canberra: Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

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