The general objective of the HUMOS (HUman MOdel for Safety) European research programme is to develop a new finite element model (FEM) of a seated car occupant, validated for car crash conditions and aimed at the optimisation of vehicle design. This poster paper presents information on the response (kinematics, acceleration) of unembalmed Post Mortem Human Subjects (PMHS) in a frontal sled deceleration test. For the mathematical modelling, the frontal impact situation was kept relatively simple with well-known initial and boundary conditions. The information provided by the four tests carried out was used to evaluate the biofidelity of a FEM of a car occupant. The protocol used was especially designed for the purpose of model validation. The PMHS were selected in order to match as close as possible the characteristics of the PMHS which was used for generating geometric data of the model within the HUMOS programme. It is concluded that the impact situation tested is representative of accidents with occupants restrained by safety belts.
Abstract