Mathematical modelling of the human body is widely used for automotive crash-safety research and design. Simulations have contributed to a reduction of injury numbers by optimisation of vehicle structures and restraint systems. Currently such simulations are largely performed using occupant models based on crash-dummies. These models inherit the apparent differences between dummies and the real human body. Furthermore, crash-dummies are only available for a limited set of body sizes.
In order to assess passive safety for different body sizes, a method has been developed to generate models representing subjects of varying anthropometry. This method has been applied to “scale” crash-dummy models towards different body sizes and proportions.
As a next step, models of the real human body for impact loading have been developed. A combination of modelling techniques is applied using rigid bodies for most body segments, but describing the thorax as a flexible structure. The models allow simulation of global injury criteria like chest-deflection, acceleration, and neck loads. For a more detailed analysis, submodels can easily be integrated into the current whole body models. Human body models of different sizes are being developed to allow crash-safety design based on human body models with realistic anthropometry distributions.