Title: Research on injury characteristics of dummies based on secondary collision between occupant and seat in metro trains

Authors: Jinle Wang; Bing Yang; Honglei Tian; Wenbin Wang; Xu Sang

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu Sichuan, 611756, China; R&D Center, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266111, China ' State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu Sichuan, 611756, China ' R&D Center, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., Qingdao, 266111, China ' College of Transportation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China ' College of Transportation, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

Abstract: Collision accidents, such as frontal collisions in metro trains, can cause serious occupant injuries. This study investigates the injury characteristics of dummies based on secondary collision between occupant and seat in metro trains. A full-scale finite element model of a frontal collision was developed. Using a simplified dummy-carriage coupling model, we compared acceleration boundary conditions and explored the protective effects of three seat structures, as well as the influence of occupant numbers and seating angles on secondary collisions. Results showed that enclosed seats offered the best protection. Occupants sitting at larger angles experienced more severe injuries, with those closest to the seat side panel suffering the most. Injury severity increased with the number of occupants. The research results are helpful for understanding the mechanisms of secondary collision injuries in metro trains.

Keywords: metro trains; frontal collisions; secondary collisions; occupants injuries; seat structures; dummies; dummy-carriage coupling model; side panels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2025.150168

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2025 Vol.19 No.4, pp.403 - 431

Received: 06 Jan 2025
Accepted: 12 Apr 2025
Published online: 02 Dec 2025 *

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