Biomechanical Accident Investigation Methodology Using Analytical Techniques

The purpose of this paper is to describe a combination of state-of-the-art detailed accident investigation procedures, computerized vehicle crash and occupant modeling, and biomechanical analysis of human injury causation into a method for obtaining enhanced biomechanical data from car crashes. Four accident cases, out of eighteen investigated, were selected for detailed reconstruction. Three were frontal impacts while the fourth was lateral. The CRASH II and MVMA 2-D analytical models were used in the reconstruction process. Occupant motions, force interactions with vehicle components, accelerations on the various body segments, and much other information was produced in the simulation process and is reported in this paper along with scene and injury data from the accidents. The major conclusion reached was that the reconstructions, using largely preliminary data for the occupant and vehicle, were evaluated and the dynamic loadings predicted for application to the car occupants yielded injury results which were generally within accepted ranges of human tolerance data. Additional conclusions were reached about the quality of data describing the occupant, car, and accident needed for analytical reconstruction.