Title: Crashworthiness of vehicle-to-pole collisions using a hybrid III three-year-old child dummy

Authors: Ahmed Elmarakbi; Vid Krznaric; Khaled Sennah; William Altenhof; Michael Chapman

Addresses: Department of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sunderland, Sunderland SR6 0DD, UK ' Civil Engineering Department, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada ' Civil Engineering Department, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada ' Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 2N5, Canada ' Civil Engineering Department, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada

Abstract: This paper focuses on minimising child injuries experienced during frontal vehicle-to-pole collisions by improving on the safety and energy absorption of existing traffic pole structures. A finite element computer model, using LS-DYNA software, is used to simulate crash events in order to determine the influence of pole structural and material characteristics on the injury parameters of a three-year-old child dummy occupant. Five different pole support systems and laminar traffic poles of different materials are investigated in this paper. It is concluded that the anchored base support system provides desirable crashworthy results, thus reducing fatalities and injuries resulting from vehicle impact. It is also recommended to mandate traffic protection devices in all areas with poor energy absorbing characteristics that resemble non-deformable objects.

Keywords: crashworthiness; vehicle-pole collisions; luminaire support; finite element analysis; FEA; numerical simulation; child occupant; injury criteria; child dummy; child injuries; children; vehicle accidents; frontal collisions; traffic pole safety; energy absorption; traffic pole structures; anchored base support; vehicle impact; traffic protection devices; vehicle safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2013.052240

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2013 Vol.8 No.1, pp.1 - 37

Received: 05 Dec 2011
Accepted: 14 Apr 2012
Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article