Validation of pedestrian upper legform impact test:​ reconstruction of pedestrian accidents

Matsui, Yasuhiro; Ishikawa, Hirotoshi; Sasaki, Akira

EEVCYWG 10 proposed three component pedestrian subsystem tests. Euro-NCAP pedestrian tests have been conducted according to these procedures. The results from Euro-NCAP indicate that the upper legform impact test has the most difficulty fulfilling the current injury criteria. However, the number of severe injuries from impact against the bonnet leading edge has been decreasing recently.

The objective of this research is to validate the test conditions and injury criteria of the EEVC upper legform impact test from accident analyses, impact tests with production cars and accident reconstruction tests.

The top four factors affecting the injury risk of the femur/pelvis were the bonnet leading edge height, the pedestrian age, the vehicle registration year, and the bumper lead. The fracture of lower leg also affected the significance of the upper leg injury.

The Weibull cumulative frequency curve was obtained as a biomechanical injury risk curve from accident reconstruction tests. At the 50 percentile injury risk level, 7.5 kN for impact force and 510 Nm for bending moment were obtained. The current injury criteria of 4 kN for impact force and 220 Nm for bending moment are too severe.

It is necessary to reconsider the injury criteria and test conditions of the EEVC pedestrian upper legform impact test.

Year

Entry

1996

Janssen EG; EEVC WG10. EEVC test methods to evaluate pedestrian protection afforded by passengers cars. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1212-1225.

1998

Konosu A, Ishikawa H, Sasaki A. A study on pedestrian impact test procedure by computer simulation: the upper legform to bonnet leading edge test. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.2349-2356.

1991

Lawrence GJL, Hardy BJ, Harris J. Bonnet leading edge sub-systems test for cars to assess protection for pedestrians. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 4-7, 1991; Paris, France.402-413.

1997

Kajzer J, Schroeder G, Ishikawa H, Matsui Y, Bosch U. Shearing and bending effects at the knee joint at high speed lateral loading. In: Proceedings of the 41st Stapp Car Crash Conference. November 13-14, 1997; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:151-165. SAE 973326.

Year