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Modelling the Lateral Impact of the Thorax in Car Side Impact Accidents
Technical Paper
856026
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
As part of the development of a simulation model for side impact
accidents, it has been necessary to develop a model of the human
thorax. This is required to provide both the correct dynamic
interface with the simulation of the car structure and a reasonable
criterion of injury probability. In terms of designing structures
(such as additional padding) that will maximise occupant
protection, it is important to have a good understanding of the
dependence of injury on the time history of the impact forces.
It is only possible to develop a complete model of a system as
complex as the thorax in terms of a step-by-step simulation.
However, an analytical model has also been developed to describe
the third order mass/spring/damper system that forms a major
subsystem in the step-by-step simulation. This differs from the
ordinary second order mass/spring/damper system by having an
additional spring in series with the damper, which gives a softer
response to a sudden impact. Detailed characteristics of the system
have been derived, including an analysis of the dependence of peak
deflection (probably a good measure of injury probability) on the
duration of an applied impulse force.