FFI - Fordonsstrategisk Forskning och Innovation

A mathematical human model with active neck and detailed brain was developed and validated in the project. The goal with the project was to develop a unique tool that can be used to develop and evaluate pedestrian injury countermeasures for pedestrian impacted by passenger vehicles. The model was validated by comparing predictions from the model with results from corresponding post mortem human subject (PMHS) tests. Reasonable validation of the model was reached. In addition the model was validated by reconstructing a number of pedestrian to vehicle impacts. The model was used to study the influence of neck muscles on the motion of the head in a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian. Small influence of tensed neck musculature on the impact velocity and impact point for an impacted pedestrian was found. The model has also been used to study the influence of shoulder and lumbar motion on head kinematics. The neck kinematics when impacted on the shoulder was found to correspond to a human with tensed neck musculature. The risk for a pedestrian to sustain brain injuries was evaluated with the detailed head model. An inflatable head protection system for pedestrians was found to significantly reduce the risk for brain injury. The model has also been used to study the risk of damage by reconstructing a number of passenger vehicles to pedestrian accidents.