BUMPER CHARACTERISTICS FOR IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Impacts of bumpers on the legs of pedestrians are analysed by simulating accidents using comprehensively instrumented adult and child dummies with free-standing ability. The friction force between the feet and ground is found to be a significant factor in the kinematics of the pedestrian and his interaction with the bumper, vehicle and ground. The effects of bumper height, lead and deflection characteristics are evaluated experimentally in conjunction with a mathematical model of leg impact. Bumper impacts are not considered in isolation; results indicate that bumper positional requirements for reduced leg injury would be 12-14 in height and 5 in lead, but vehicle front end height is a more important factor in determining critical impacts of other body areas with the vehicle and ground. An energy absorbing bumper system with the facility to lift the leg on impact presents further possibilities of reducing loads on the leg.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of 20th Conference, Dearborn, Michigan, October 18-20, 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Bacon, D G
  • Wilson, M R
• Conference:
  • Stapp Car Crash Conference Proceedings
• Publication Date: 1976-10-18

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 391-428

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Biophysics; Bumpers; Dummies; Energy absorption; Injuries; Kinematics; Leg; Mathematical models; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Simulation; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165122
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 760812 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1977 12:00AM