In a vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents the risk of pedestrian injuries is attributed to both vehicle-pedestrian and road surface-pedestrian impacts. To minimise the risk for or the severity of the injury a good understanding of the dynamics responses is required. In the presented study, a validated mathematical model of the pedestrian was used to simulate the dynamic response of the human body. The model represents a 50th percentile male adult. The anthropometrical data were based on biomechanical data. The risk for and the severity of pedestrian injuries can be evaluated in terms of the kinematics of the pedestrian model, and the calculated injury related parameters such as bumper impact forces, rotation of the knee as well as accelerations of the head, chest, pelvis and legs. Influence of car front shape to responses of a pedestrian in car and road surfaces collisions were studied at impact speeds of 15 kph up to 40 kph with various car front shapes and stiffness'. (A)
Abstract