Title: Development and validation of a finite element model of a dummy for design of pedestrian-friendly vehicles

Authors: Jianfeng Yao; Jikuang Yang; Rikard Fredriksson

Addresses: Department of Applied Mechanics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden. ' Department of Applied Mechanics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden; Research Center of Vehicle and Traffic Safety, SKLVB/Hunan University, 410082, Changsha, China. ' Division of Intervention and Implementation Research, Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden; Autoliv Research, 447 83, Vårgårda, Sweden

Abstract: A Finite Element (FE) model of the Chalmers-Autoliv pedestrian dummy was developed and validated. The dummy model was used to: investigate the difference in the assessment of head injury risks by the dummy model and by an EEVC adult headform model; to develop and optimise a pedestrian airbag system. The study showed that the head impact conditions and the calculated head injury parameters of the dummy model were different from those of the EEVC headform model. A properly designed airbag system can effectively reduce head injury risks in a pedestrian accident.

Keywords: FEM; finite element method; modelling; pedestrian dummy; headform test; head protection; pedestrian airbags; vehicle safety; pedestrian safety; head injury risks; head injuries; head impact; vehicle accidents; pedestrian accidents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2011.044724

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2011 Vol.57 No.2/3, pp.254 - 274

Received: 12 Aug 2009
Accepted: 19 Jun 2010

Published online: 15 Apr 2015 *

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