J0201-3-4 Mechanical investigation of a braced occupant during braking by using a human FE model

Abstract

Braced conditions of occupants during pre-impact term might affect their impact responses and injury outcomes. To investigate effects of the activated muscles, we developed an occupant FE model with 3-D muscular elements. The model includes 266 muscles of whole body which could generate contraction forces. Additionally, the muscle models could represent changes of their shape and stiffness which depend on their activation levels. We also conducted a volunteer test to estimate physiological conditions of a braced volunteer. Activation levels of the muscle models were estimated based on the experimental data. Predicted reaction forces on a pedal, a steering, and seats reasonably agreed with those of the experimental data. Frontal impact analyses using the occupant model showed differences of the reaction forces, contact forces on joints, stress distributions on bones between braced and relaxed conditions.