This paper investigates the influence of the vehicle front‐end geometry on the legform of a pedestrian. The attention is turned towards the legform test, since it was noticed that the disproportion of legform behaviour for the subsystem test and full scale dummy is considerable. The verification of kinematics was conducted by means of appropriate numerical software and validated dummies based on Finite Element Method, multibody as well as Coupling – i.e. multibody interfaced with FEM. The acquired and presented data suggest that for SUV‐type vehicles the dummy test is more effective. Based on the research, the authors propose that high‐bumper vehicles should be granted the type‐approval with regard to the protection of pedestrians, provided they ensure adequate kinematics to a pedestrian – i.e. do not drag a pedestrian underneath the chassis. Secondly, the vehicles must meet the biomechanical criteria encompassed by the current standards which ensure the desired crash energy absorption.
Keywords:
legform injury, numerical simulations, pedestrian safety, Sport Utility Vehicle