An experimental model system for the study of lower leg and knee injuries in car pedestrian accidents

Aldman, Bertil; Thorngren, Lennart; Bunketorp, Olle; Romanus, Bertil

A model system has been developed for experimental studies of leg injuries seen in car-pedestrian accidents. A human leg specimen or a mechanical leg and knee model is loaded with a concentrated body mass, balanced on an instrumented platform and impacted by a bumper and simulated car front mounted on a test cart. The reaction forces in the leg and knee are analyzed and the possibility to minimize these forces by varying the bumper level and the impacting surface compliance are illustrated. A comparison is made between the forces and deformations recorded in the mechanical model and the injuries produced to the biological specimens. Based on these data the significance of different bumper levels and types for lower leg and knee injuries seen in real car-pedestrian accidents is discussed.

Year

Entry

1979

Aldman B, Lundell B, Thorngren L, Bunketorp O, Romanus B. Physical simulation of human leg-bumper impacts. In: Proceedings of the 1979 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 5-7, 1979; Goeteborg, Sweden.232-242.

1976

Krieger KW, Padgaonkar AJ, King AI. Full-scale experimental simulation of pedestrian-vehicle impacts. In: Proceedings of the 20th Stapp Car Crash Conference. October 18-20, 1976; Dearborn, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:431-463. SAE 760813.

1978

Lucchini E, Weissner R. Influence of bumper adjustment on the kinematics of an impacted pedestrian. In: Proceedings of the 1978 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-13, 1978; Lyon, France.172-182.

1980

Aldman B, Thorngren L, Bunketorp O, Romanus B. An experimental model for the study of lower leg and knee injuries in car-pedestrian impacts. In: Proceedings of the 1980 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 9-11, 1980; Birmingham, England.180-193.

1978

Kühnel A, Rau H. The fidelity of dummies in pedestrian collisions. In: Proceedings of the 1978 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 12-13, 1978; Lyon, France.183-194.