Highlights The effects of changes in frontal stiffness on protection of rear seat occupants were investigated. The stiffness was adjusted by using higher strength steels (DP and TRIP), or thicker metal sheets. The simulations were performed using an LS Dyna vehicle model coupled with a MADYMO dummy. Simulations showed that increase in stiffness from 1000N/mm to 2356N/mm increased the risk of AIS3+ head injuries from 4.8% to 24.2%. Distribution of injuries from real world accident data confirms the findings of the simulations.
Abstract Previous research has shown that rear seat occupant protection has decreased over model years, and front-end stiffness is a possible factor causing this trend. In this research, the effects of a change in stiffness on protection of rear seat occupants in frontal crashes were investigated. The stiffness was adjusted by using higher strength steels (DP and TRIP), or thicker metal sheets. Finite element simulations were performed, using an LS Dyna vehicle model coupled with a MADYMO dummy. Simulation results showed that an increase in stiffness, to the extent it happened in recent model years, can increase the risk of AIS3+ head injuries from 4.8% in the original model (with a stiffness of 1000N/mm) to 24.2% in a modified model (with a stiffness of 2356N/mm). The simulations also showed an increased risk of chest injury from 9.1% in the original model to 11.8% in the modified model. Distribution of injuries from real world accident data confirms the findings of the simulations.
High strength steels, stiffness of vehicle front-end structure, and risk of injury to rear seat occupants
Accident Analysis and Prevention ; 66 ; 43-54
2014-01-04
12 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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