Project

The use of computer occupant models has been and still is rising enormously. The models of crash dummies are important to address legal- and rating tests. However, improving the safety for the vehicle occupants on a more general level requires improved models of the human. Human body models can be used to specify occupant kinematics and to measure the loading conditions from restraints or vehicle interior structures. With human body models, size, weight and body composition can be made to vary separately and in narrower increment. This will allow for assessment of protection for all the population at risk. It has also been shown that the mechanical characteristics of the occupant vary significantly with age and possibly also with gender. It has also been shown that the kinematics of the occupant in a crash varies significantly with mass and body size. In human models the mechanical response (thoracic force/deflection characteristics) can be adjusted to reproduce posture-, age-, gender- or mass related characteristics.