Studies on Occupant Restraint Method in Car Crash Using Reduced-Order Dynamic Model Considering Thoracic Deflection

Abstract

A simple dynamic model will be effective to determine the properties of protection devices because it is useful to understand the essential dynamics of the occupant in car crash. This paper describes an optimal restraint method in frontal car crash by using a reduced-order dynamic model based on human finite element model having age-specific characteristics such as bone stiffness and tolerance of the body. The restraint force is determined so as to minimize the maximum thoracic deflection, which is one of the representing injury criteria in frontal car crash, while the maximum thorax and pelvis displacements are restrained. Simulation results clarify that the optimal restraint force is effective for reducing the maximum thoracic deflection.