With the ever increasing survivability of road traffic accidents due to the introduction of airbags, and the proposed implementation of the new European Frontal Impact Legislation, motor manufacturers are now focusing on reducing lower limb injuries. To achieve this, there is a need to develop a better understanding of lower leg injury mechanisms, and lower leg interaction with the intruding footwell. An industry collaborative group was established, which included Ford, Jaguar and Rover, with the research being managed by the Motor Industry Research Association MIRA. The Lower Leg Injuries and Methods of Prevention (LLIMP) Vehicle Design Project was to focus on footwell and restraint system design. A program of crash tests, including both Front fixed Barrier and Offset deformable tests were conducted and an evaluation of the analysed results from lower leg and footwell instrumentation was conducted. This identified five distinct phases in lower leg kinematics, which are affected by both the footwell intrusion profiles and Hybrid III dummy lower leg positions and geometry. The interaction of the dummy lower leg and the foot have also been investigated using HyGe sled test techniques, with both static and dynamic intruding footwells. The paper presents the five phases of lower leg kinematics, plus the interaction between the dummy foot and footwell on the lower leg kinematics. The paper then investigates the options for controlling these for reducing lower leg injury criteria.
Abstract