Title: Certification by analysis and simulation validation

Authors: Joseph Pellettiere; David Moorcroft

Addresses: Federal Aviation Administration, Washington DC 20024, USA ' Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Oklahoma City, OK 73169, USA

Abstract: Modelling and simulation is increasingly being used to represent occupant behaviour of human subjects and anthropomorphic test devices. Future trends are towards the application of certification by analysis whereby a product, such as an aircraft seat, can be partially certified through analytical means. A robust and objective method to discriminate different features of the model comparison is needed to determine model validity so that the certification authority can objectively determine the model acceptability. Expert opinion could introduce bias and lead to inconsistent results. In any testing, there is some inherent uncertainty and variation in the measured responses that affects the baseline comparison data. Each individual response should be treated as a separate case. A method derived from Sprague and Geers was developed and applied to occupant models of seat simulations. Using test data, acceptable error levels were calculated that represent the occupant and provide consistent and objective results.

Keywords: validation methods; validation metrics; certification by analysis; CBA; occupant injury; aircraft seats; Sprague and Geers; modelling; simulation; virtual ATD; occupant behaviour; occupant safety; model validation; uncertainty; anthropomorphic test devices; seat occupants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2014.067168

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2014 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.177 - 190

Received: 19 Oct 2013
Accepted: 27 May 2014
Published online: 07 Feb 2015 *

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