The present paper concerns a research performed in the framework of the eec biomechanics research contracts. It is mainly related to the reconstructions of pedestrian head-to-car impacts, these impacts being observed in true-life accidents. The aim was to investigate relations between the severity of head injuries sustained by the victim of a collision with a vehicle and the physical measurements recorded on dummy heads separated from the dummy body or not, so as to progress in the knowledge of human tolerances and to estimate the feasibilities of modifications on vehicles to make them less dangerous as regards pedestrians. In addition an attempt was made to define a model of dummy head which reduced the scatter and gave more accuracy to the results being obtained with dummy heads. Findings mainly concern methodology; they propose in particular guidelines for improvements of the dummy heads and of pedestrian dummies.
Samenvatting