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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Feasibility of analysing the effects of personal protective equipment using virtual human body models

Machbarkeitsstudie zur Wirksamkeitsanalyse persoenlicher Schutzausruestung mit virtuellen Menschmodellen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of virtual human body models for analyzing the effects of personal protecting equipment. Selecting the specific example of a sideways fall which generates a direct impact on the hip and using numerical simulations two different concepts of protectors where evaluated regarding biomechanical criteria. The analyzed conventional protector reduces the transmitted forces to the human body. However, the strain values shown after the impact are very similar to those values observed in case of a fall without protector. Despite the reduction in force transmission, the strain values obtained indicate a femur bone fracture. The results obtained question the injury prevention capacity of the protectors currently certified by the European standards under the conditions used for this study, roughly representing a 60cm­ drop of the human body. In contrast, the reduction of strain values observed by the airbag case was considerable in comparison to the certified protector example. In addition, the force transmitted to the human body is more reduced with an airbag protector than with a conventional one. These results point out the protection potential of an airbag protector in terms of injury severity reduction and suggest that with an optimized airbag's design, femoral fracture could be prevented. Despite the promising results obtained, this work includes some limitations. Firstly, the sideways fall boundary conditions are not demonstrated as representative of a motorcycle fall on the side. In the framework of the FP7 Marie Curie Action MOTORIST, currently a study of the realistic impact conditions by means of accident analysis is ongoing. Future work will include this information as an input for the simulations. Secondly, to obtain high grades of bio-fidelity, the implementation of validated models is determinant. The evaluation of possible injuries is extremely dependent of the material properties and an appropriate material modeling. Because THUMS V4 is primarily developed for analyzing the injuries produced in car occupants, femur's modeling technique is limited, especially the trabecular bone at the proximal region. The study of the trabecular bone under dynamic loading at the proximal region and the implementation of a validated model with its corresponding material properties is the current main research activity of the authors. This relates in particular to establishing failure criteria for trabecular bone, which would allow to also address the other body regions covered by the EN 1621-1. Finally, regarding the results obtained in this study and its limitations, virtual human models are revealed as a promising analytic tool for the evaluation of personal protective equipment. (A)

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Institut fuer Zweiradsicherheit (ifz) e.V.

    Gladbecker Str. 425
    Essen,   Germany  45329
  • Authors:
    • Aranda, R
    • Peldschus, S
  • Publication Date: 2016

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References;
  • Pagination: pp 257-69
  • Monograph Title: Sicherheit - Umwelt - Zukunft. Tagungsband der 11. Internationalen Motorradkonferenz 2016
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01670087
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt)
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: May 23 2018 11:35AM