A human-body 3D mathematical model for simulation of car-pedestrian impacts

wbldb

Yang, J. K.¹; Lövsund, P.¹; Cavallero, C.²; Bonnoit, J.²

A human-body 3D mathematical model for simulation of car-pedestrian impacts

J Crash Prev Injury Control. 2000;2(2):131-149

Affiliations

¹Crash Safely Division, Department of Machine and Vehicle Design, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

²LBA/INRETS University Aix-Marseille II, Marseilles, France
Abstract and keywords

A 3D mathematical model of the human body was developed to simulate responses of pedestrians in car impacts. The model consists of fifteen body segments connected by fourteen joints, including two human-like knee joints and two breakable-leg segments. The anthro pometrical data for the model were generated by the GEBOD program, and characteristics of the body segments and the joints were defined based on available biomechanical data.

The validity of the model was evaluated against full-scale impact tests with pedestrian substitutes and an experimental car in terms of the kinematics of the pedestrian substitute, bumper impact forces, accelerations of the body segments, and failure description from anatomical investigations of the pedestrian substitutes.

The sensitivity of the model to input variables was studied at impact speeds of 15 and 40 km/h with the following car-front parameters: bumper height, bumper stiffness, bumper lead distance, height of hood edge, and hood-edge stiffness. The validated model demonstrated its capability in simulations of car-pedestrian impacts for the assessment of responses of pedestrians, prediction of risks of pedestrian injuries and for the development of safety countermeasures.

Keywords: Human mathematical model; pedestrian protection; car; impact response
Links

DOI: 10.1080/10286580008902559
History

Received: 1999-03-30

Accepted: 2000-02-18

Online: 2007-02-05

Cited Works (27)

Year	Entry
1986	Gibson TJ, Hinrichs RW, McLean AJ. Pedestrian head impacts: development and validation of a mathematical model. In: Proceedings of the 1986 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 2-4, 1986; Zurich, Switzerland.165-176.
1993	Kress TA, Snider JN, Porta DJ, Fuller PM, Wasserman JF, Tucker GV. Human femur response to impact loading. In: Proceedings of the 1993 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1993; Eindhoven, The Netherlands.93-104.
1989	Viano DC. Biomechanical responses and injuries in blunt lateral impact. In: Proceedings of the 33rd Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 4-6, 1989; Washington, DC. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:113-142. SAE 892432.
1981	Cesari D, Ramet M, Bloch J. Influence of arm position on thoracic injuries in side impact. In: Proceedings of the 25th Stapp Car Crash Conference. September 28-30, 1981; San Francisco, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:271-297. SAE 811007.
1978	Pritz HB. Comparison of the dynamic responses of anthropomorphic test devices and human anatomic specimens in experimental pedestrian impacts. In: Proceedings of the 22nd Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 24-26, 1978; Ann Arobor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:343-357. SAE 780894.
1978	White AA III, Panjabi MM. Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company; 1978.
1983	Cavallero C, Cesari D, Ramet M, Billault P, Farisse J, Seriat-Gautier B, Bonnoit J. Improvement of pedestrian safety: influence of shape of passenger car-front structures upon pedestrian kinematics and injuries: evaluation based on 50 cadaver tests. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 28–March 4, 1983; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 830624.
1975	Nyquist GW, Murton CJ. Static bending response of the human lower torso. In: Proceedings of the 19th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1975; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:513-541. SAE 751158.
1982	Cesari D, Ramet M, Zac R. Behaviour of side impact dummies used as pedestrians in accident reconstructions. In: Proceedings of the 1982 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1982; Cologne, Germany.230-240.
1986	Butler DL, Kay MD, Stouffer DC. Comparison of material properties in fascicle-bone units from human patellar tendon and knee ligaments. J Biomech. 1986;19(6):425-432.
1985	Nyquist GW, Cheng R, El-Bohy AAR, King AI. Tibia bending: strength and response. In: Proceedings of the 29th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 9-11, 1985; Washington, DC. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:99-112. SAE 851728.
1978	Appel H, Kuehnel A, Stuertz G, Gloeckner H. Pedestrian safety vehicle: design elements results of in-depth accident analyses and simulation. In: 22nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). July 10-14, 1978; Ann Arbor, MI.132-153.
1993	Ishikawa H, Kajzer J, Schroeder G. Computer simulation of impact response of the human body in car-pedestrian accidents. In: Proceedings of the 37th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 7-8, 1993; San Antonio, TX. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:235-248. SAE 933129.
1982	Cesari D, Ramet M. Pelvic tolerance and protection criteria in side impact. In: Proceedings of the 26th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 20-21, 1982; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:145-154. SAE 821159.
1991	Allsop DL, Perl TR, Warner CY. Force/deflection and fracture characteristics of the temporo-parietal region of the human head. In: Proceedings of the 35th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 18-20, 1991; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:269-278. SAE 912907.
1983	Wismans J, Spenny CH. Performance requirements for mechanical necks in lateral flexion. In: Proceedings of the 27th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 17-19, 1983; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:137-148. SAE 831613.
1988	McElhaney JH, Doherty BJ, Paver JG, Myers BS, Gray L. Combined bending and axial loading responses of the human cervical spine. In: Proceedings of the 32nd Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 17-19, 1988; Atlanta, GA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:21-28. SAE 881709.
1997	Yang JK, Lövsund P. Development and validation of a human-body mathematical model for simulation of car-pedestrian collisions. In: Proceedings of the 1997 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 24-26, 1997; Hannover, Germany.113-149.
1985	Janssen EG, Wismans JSHM. Experimental and mathematical simulation of pedestrian-vehicle and cyclist-vehicle accidents. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). July 1-4, 1985; Oxford, England.977-988. SAE 856113.
1979	Tarrière C, Walfisch G, Fayon A, Rosey JP, Got C, Patel A, Delmas A. Synthesis of human tolerances obtained from lateral impact simulations. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). June 5, 1979; Paris, France.359-373.
1985	Aldman B, Kajzer J, Bunketorp O, Eppinger R. An experimental study of a modified compliant bumper. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). July 1-4, 1985; Oxford, England.1035-1040. SAE 856118.
1970	Yamada H. Strength of Biological Materials. Evans FG, ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins Company; 1970.
1989	Viano DC, Lau IV, Asbury C, King AI, Begeman P. Biomechanics of the human chest, abdomen, and pelvis in lateral impact. In: 33rd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 2-4, 1989; Baltimore, MD.367-382.
1971	Mertz HJ, Patrick LM. Strength and response of the human neck. In: Proceedings of the 15th Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 17-19, 1971; Coronado, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:207-255. SAE 710855.
1986	Wismans J, van Oorschot H, Woltring HJ. Omni-directional human head-neck response. In: Proceedings of the 30th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 27-29, 1986; San Diego, CA. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:313-331. SAE 861893.
1999	Huang TJ, McDonald J, Artis M, Rangarajan N, Shams T, White RP Jr, Beach D, Campbell R Jr, Akiyama A, Yoshida S, Ishikawa H, Konosu A. Development of a biofidelic dummy for car-pedestrian accident studies. In: Proceedings of the 1999 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 23-24, 1999; Sitges, Spain.315-327.
1973	Hodgson VR, Thomas LM. Breaking Strength of the Human Skull Vs Impact Surface Curvature. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; November 1973. NHTSA Technical Report DOT HS-801 002.

Cited By (33)

Year	Entry
2015	Yang KH, Chou CC. Mathematical models, computer aided design, and occupant safety. In: Yoganandan N, Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2015:143-182.
2015	Simms CK, Wood D, Fredriksson R. Pedestrian injury biomechanics and protection. In: Yoganandan N, Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2015:721-753.
2001	Fredriksson R, Håland Y, Yang J. Evaluation of a new pedestrian head injury protection system with a sensor in the bumper and lifting of the bonnet’s rear part. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands. SAE 2001-06-0089.
2001	Yang J, Liu X, Lövsund P, Tingvall C, Lie A, Larsson P, Lekander T. Speed limit in city area and improvement of vehicle front design for pedestrian impact protection: a computer simulation study. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2003	Yang J. Effects of vehicle front design parameters on pedestrian head-brain injury protection. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
2003	van Rooij L, Bhalla K, Meissner M, Ivarsson J, Crandall J, Longhitano D, Takahashi Y, Dokko Y, Kikuchi Y. Pedestrian crash reconstruction using multi-body modeling with geometrically detailed, validated vehicle models and advanced pedestrian injury criteria. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
2005	Linder A, Douglas C, Clark A, Fildes B, Yang J, Otte D. Mathematical simulations of real-world pedestrian-vehicle collisions. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.
2005	Depriester J-P, Perrin C, Serre T, Chalandon S. Comparison of several methods for real pedestrian accident reconstruction. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.
2005	Yang J, Yao J, Otte D. Correlation of different impact conditions to the injury severity of pedestrians in real world accidents. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 6-9, 2005; Washington, DC.
2001	Coley G, de Lange R, de Oliveira P, Neal-Sturgess CE, Happee R. Pedestrian human body validation using detailed real-world accidents. In: Proceedings of the 2001 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. October 10-12, 2001; Isle of Man, UK.
2001	Liu X, Yang J. Development of child pedestrian mathematical models and evaluation with accident reconstructions. In: Proceedings of the 2001 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. October 10-12, 2001; Isle of Man, UK.
2002	Liu X, Yang J. Effects of vehicle impact velocity and front-end structure on the dynamic responses of child pedestrians. In: Proceedings of the 2002 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 18-20, 2002; Munich, Germany.
2005	Yao J, Yang J, Otte D, Fredriksson R. Reconstruction of head-to-bonnet top impact in child pedestrian-to-passenger car crash. In: Proceedings of the 2005 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 2005; Prague, Czech Republic.29-39.
2006	Serre T, Masson C, Perrin C, Chalandon S, Llari M, Cavallero C, Py M, Cesari D. Pedestrian and cyclist accidents: a comparative study using in-depth investigation, multibody simulation and experimental test. In: Proceedings of the 2006 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 20-22, 2006; Madrid, Spain.303-317.
2006	Yao J, Yang J, Otte D. Investigation of brain injuries by reconstructions of real world adult pedestrian accidents. In: Proceedings of the 2006 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 20-22, 2006; Madrid, Spain.241-252.
2007	Verschueren P, Delye H, Haex B, Berckmans D, Verpoest I, Goffin J, Vander Sloten J, Van der Perre G. Implementation of head injury criteria in cyclist-car accidents. In: Proceedings of the 2007 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 19-21, 2007; Maastricht, The Netherlands.405-408.
2008	Kerrigan J, Parent D, Untaroiu C, Crandall J, Deng B. A new detailed multi-body model of the pedestrian lower extremity: development and preliminary validation. In: Proceedings of the 2008 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 17-19, 2008; Bern, Switzerland.227-242.
2012	Peng Y, Deck C, Yang J, Otte D, Willinger R. A study of kinematics of adult pedestrian and head impact conditions in case of passenger car collisions based on real world accident data. In: Proceedings of the 2012 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 12-14, 2012; Dublin, Ireland.766-778.
2014	Bourdet N, Luttenberger P, Teibinger A, Mayer C, Willinger R. Pedestrian and bicyclists head impact conditions against small electric vehicle. In: Proceedings of the 2014 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 10-12, 2014; Berlin, Germany.685-696.
2015	Paas R, Östh J, Davidsson J. Which pragmatic finite element human body model scaling technique can most accurately predict head impact conditions in pedestrian-car crashes? In: Proceedings of the 2015 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 9-11, 2015; Lyon, France.546-576.
2005	Renaud F, Tapia F, Fredriksson R, Yang J. Development of a mechanical neck for a six-year-old pedestrian dummy. In: Proceedings of the 1st Ohio State University Injury Biomechanics Symposium. May 19-21, 2005; Columbus, OH.
2003	Van Hoof J, De Lange R, Wismans JSHM. Improving pedestrian safety using numerical human models. Stapp Car Crash J. 2003;47:401-436. SAE 2003-22-0018.
2002	Crandall JR, Bhalla KS, Madeley NJ. Designing road vehicles for pedestrian protection. BMJ. May 11, 2002;324(7346):1145-1148.
2009	Untaroiu CD, Meissner MU, Crandall JR, Takahashi Y, Okamoto M, Ito O. Crash reconstruction of pedestrian accidents using optimization techniques. Int J Impact Eng. February 2009;36(2):210-219.
2008	Yao J, Yang J, Otte D. Investigation of head injuries by reconstructions of real-world vehicle-versus-adult-pedestrian accidents. Safety Sci. August 2008;46(7):1103-1114.
2002	Liu XJ, Yang JK, Lövsund P. A study of influences of vehicle speed and front structure on pedestrian impact responses using mathematical models. Traffic Inj Prev. 2002;3(1):31-42.
2002	Liu XJ, Yang JK. Development of child pedestrian mathematical models and evaluation with accident reconstruction. Traffic Inj Prev. 2002;3(4):321-329.
2009	Kerrigan JR, Parent DP, Untaroiu C, Crandall JR, Deng B. A new approach to multibody model development: pedestrian lower extremity. Traffic Inj Prev. 2009;10(4):386-397.
2016	Grigoriadis G. Heel Biomechanics Under Blast Conditions [PhD thesis]. Imperial College London; June 2016.
2009	Verschueren P. Biomechanical Analysis of Head Injuries Related to Bicycle Accidents and a New Bicycle Helmet Concept [PhD thesis]. Leuven, Belgium: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; July 2009.
2007	Meissner MU. Crash Reconstruction of Vehicle-to-Pedestrian Crash Events Using Optimization Software [Master's thesis]. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia; August 2007.
2008	Kerrigan JR. A Computationally Efficient Mathematical Model of the Pedestrian Lower Extremity [PhD thesis]. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia; January 2008.
2019	Bollapragada V. The Influence of Disabling Injuries on the Design of the Vehicle Front End for Pedestrian Safety [PhD thesis]. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia; August 2019.