The paper describes results obtained from analytical, three-dimensional, motion simulations of adult and child pedestrians impacted by an automobile. The baseline geometric and stiffness parameters used in this simulation correspond to a typical mid-size vehicle, the latter being measured by a dynamic impactor developed for the study. The effects of variation of several of the vehicle's front-end design parameters on the impact severities of a 50th percentile male adult and a 6yr old child pedestrian are studied using experimental design techniques. Both the main effects and the first-order interactions among the parameters are investigated. It is shown that the countermeasure suggested for reducing adult pedestrian's injuries could aggravate child pedestrian's injuries. For the covering abstract see IRRD 273095.
Samenvatting