Title: The influence of the vehicle's front-end profile upon adult pedestrian kinematics and dynamics, multibody approach

Authors: Adrian Soica; Nicolae Ispas

Addresses: Department of Vehicles and Transport Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Bd. Eroilor, no.29, zip code 500036, Brasov, Romania. ' Department of Vehicles and Transport Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Bd. Eroilor, no.29, zip code 500036, Brasov, Romania

Abstract: The research aims to simulate and compare with experimental data road traffic accidents involving adult pedestrians. The analysis focuses on the contact phase between the pedestrian and the vehicle's front end, using a multibody model. Taking into account the wide range of vehicles involved in such events as mentioned in the analyses from work of Depriester and Masson, the researchers aim to establish a correlation between the vehicle's front end and the pedestrian's kinematics and dynamics. By modifying certain frontal geometry parameters, various vehicle profiles were obtained in accordance with the classification from the Dettinger's study. The impact velocity and motor vehicle frontal structures, including geometry and rigidity, have proved to be important factors that produce trauma. In this paper, the vehicle's bumper assembly parameters were modified; and experimental researches and simulations were completed to determine the influence of the front-end vehicle design on the adult pedestrian kinematics and head dynamics.

Keywords: multibody modelling; vehicle safety; pedestrian accidents; accident reconstruction; accident simulation; vehicle front-end; front-end profile; adult pedestrians; kinematics; dynamics; road traffic accidents; vehicle design; vehicle bumpers; bumper assembly parameters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2012.049019

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2012 Vol.6 No.2, pp.134 - 148

Received: 22 Dec 2011
Accepted: 06 Jun 2012
Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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