Project

Vehicle model development for validation of pedestrian Human Body Models

Period
1 July 2013–31 March 2015
Project manager
Johan Davidsson

Pedestrian fatalities comprise a significant portion of total traffic fatalities. The head is the body region with highest risk of fatality. Past research has found that head impact velocity with the vehicle structure and impaq location on the vehicle influence injury risk. The kinematics of the pedestrian legs, torso and neck mainly governs the head kinematics prior to head impact and as such highly influence the head injury risk. Only a few tools are available for evaluation of pedestrian protection systems and it has been suggested that available tools need to be improved. One of the most human like tools available to date are the pedestrian version ofthe finite element model THUMS. For evaluation and improvements of this model, and other tools, experimental biomechanical response data are needed as well as finite element models of the loading devices used when this biomechanical data was generated. In a collaborative study with IFSTTAR, Marseille, full scale PMHS pedestrian collision experiments are carried out. To use this new data and facilitate an evaluation of the THUMS, finite element models of the vehicle front of the passenger car used in the experiments will be generated. This project has two main parts: Develop a detailed model of the vehicle front to be used in validations and developments of the THUMS model; develop simplified models of the vehicle front to improve the understanding of the vehicle model complexity needed for accurate response. The expected result is a validated finite element  vehicle model of the vehicle front that can be used to evaluate and improve the pedestrian model THUMS, especially its torso and neck kinematics, so that it can be used for the prediction of head kinematics. The comparison of simple and more complex versions of the vehicle model will create a deeper understanding needed for future modelling. The long term aim is that the THUMS model will predict  head injury risk and will be a powerful tool in the development and evaluation  of pedestrian protection systems.

Short facts

Research area
Human body protection
Financier(s)

SAFER

Partners

Chalmers, Autoliv

Project no

B22

Project type
Project