Mathematical Human Body Modelling for Impact Loading

Abstract

Mathematical modelling of the human body is widely used for automotive crash safety research and design. Simulations have contributed to a reduction of injury numbers by optimisation of vehicle structures and restraint systems. Currently such simulations are largely performed using occupant models based on crash dummies. These models inherit the apparant differences between dummies and the real human body. Furthermore, crash dummies are only available for a limited set of body sizes. In order to assess passive safety for different body sizes, a method has been developed to generate models representing subjects of varying anthropometry. This method has been applied to 'scale' crash dummy models towards different body sizes and proportions. As a next step, models of the real human body for impact loading have been developed. A combination of modelling techniques is applied using rigid bodies for most body segments, but describing the thorax as a flexible structure. The models allow simulation of global injury criteria like chest-deflection, acceleration and neck loads. For a more detailed analysis, submodels can easily be integrated into the current whole body models. Human body models of different sizes are being developed to allow crash safety desgn based on human body models with realistic anthropometry distributions