Search Results

Both hardware crash dummies and mathematical human models have been developed largely using the same biomechanical data. For both, biofidelity is a main requirement. Since numerical modeling is not bound to hardware crash dummy design constraints, it allows more detailed modeling of the human and offering biofidelity for multiple directions. In this study the multi-directional biofidelity of the MADYMO human occupant model is assessed, to potentially protect occupants under various impact conditions. To evaluate the model’s biofidelity, generally accepted requirements were used for frontal and lateral impact: tests proposed by EEVC and NHTSA and tests specified by ISO TR9790, respectively. A subset of the specified experiments was simulated with the human model. For lateral impact, the results were objectively rated according to the ISO protocol. Since no rating protocol was available for frontal impact, the ISO rating scheme for lateral was used for frontal, as far as possible.

Accident studies indicate that serious neck injuries are generally infrequent in side crashes. However, given the rapid changes in side impact protection technology, such as side airbags and curtain systems, the nature of head-neck interactions is likely to change. Consequently, the newest generation of anthropomorphic test devices for side impact should provide realistic prediction of the head-neck kinematics and include meaningful measurements related to risk of head and neck injury. The WorldSID dummy has been assessed against a set of five test conditions that have been used to define biofidelity impact response targets. Three of the five test conditions are recommended by ISO TR9790 (ISO 1997), the NBDL 7.2 G, 6.9 m/s lateral sled impact reported by Ewing et al. (1977) and Wismans et al. (1986), the Patrick and Chou lateral, 6.7 G 5.8 m/s (1976) and Tarriere lateral 12.2 g, 6,1 m/s sled impact (ISO 1997).

Pedestrian accidents are one of the main causes of traffic fatalities and injuries worldwide. New pedestrian safety regulations are being proposed in Europe and Japan to improve the protection afforded to pedestrians. Numerical simulations with biofidelic pedestrian models can be used to efficiently assess the risk to injury in pedestrian-vehicle impacts and to optimize the pedestrian protection in the early stages of the vehicle design process at relatively low costs. The goal of this study was to develop and validate a scaleable mid-size male pedestrian model. The model parameters were derived from published data and a large range of impactor tests. The biofidelity of the model has been verified using a range of full pedestrian-vehicle impact tests with a large range in body sizes (16 male, 2 female, height 160-192 cm, weight 53.5-90 kg). The simulation results were objectively correlated to the experimental data. Overall, the model predicted the measured response well.