Numerical Investigation on Head and Brain Injuries Caused by Windshield Impact on Riders Using Electric Self-Balancing Scooters.

Shi Shang,Ming Shen,Jun Xu,Yanting Zheng,Xianfeng Yang

doi:10.1155/2018/5738090

Shi Shang, Ming Shen + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5738090

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Abstract

To investigate head-brain injuries caused by windshield impact on riders using electric self-balancing scooters (ESS). Numerical vehicle ESS crash scenarios are constructed by combining the finite element (FE) vehicle model and multibody scooter/rider models. Impact kinematic postures of the head-windshield contact under various impact conditions are captured. Then, the processes during head-windshield contact are reconstructed using validated FE head/laminated windshield models to assess the severity of brain injury caused by the head-windshield contact. Governing factors, such as vehicle speed, ESS speed, and the initial orientation of ESS rider, have nontrivial influences over the severity of a rider's brain injuries. Results also show positive correlations between vehicle speed and head-windshield impact speeds (linear and angular). Meanwhile, the time of head-windshield contact happens earlier when the vehicle speed is faster. According to the intensive study, windshield-head contact speed (linear and angular), impact location on the windshield, and head collision area are found to be direct factors on ESS riders' brain injuries during an impact. The von Mises stress and shear stress rise when relative contact speed of head-windshield increases. Brain injury indices vary widely when the head impacting the windshield from center to the edge or impacting with different areas.

Highlights

The electric self-balancing scooter (ESS) has been attracting much attention because of its convenience and the increasing demand for modern portable transportation tools
The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety of electric self-balancing scooters (ESSs) through examining headbrain injuries caused by vehicle contact and understanding how the factors influence the effect on the severity of the ESS rider’s brain injury
It can be observed that the ESS rider fell onto the bonnet after being hit by the vehicle, head-windshield contact occurred at 226 ms

Summary

Introduction

The electric self-balancing scooter (ESS) has been attracting much attention because of its convenience and the increasing demand for modern portable transportation tools. The safety performance of ESS during traffic accidents has been investigated because ESS riders have been considered as one group of vulnerable road users (VRUs). ESS riders may suffer from severe injuries during vehicle ESS accidents [1]. Scientists and engineers have continuously paid much attention to pedestrians/cyclists’ head-brain injuries to investigate the impact mechanism and reduce casualties by designing pedestrian-friendly automobiles [2,3,4]. Only a few studies on ESS safety have been conducted. Xu et al [5, 6] first analyzed the ESS riders’ head injuries caused by vehicular or ground impact. Under the same impact situation, the ESS rider’s head impacts the windshield 20~60 ms later compared to the pedestrian

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