PARAMETRIC STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF THE FOOTWELL GEOMETRY, DYNAMIC INTRUSION AND OCCUPANT LOCATION ON HYBRID III LOWER LEG INJURY CRITERIA
Inclusion of lower leg injury criteria in the new European Frontal Impact Legislation has meant that lower leg loads for front seat occupants and footwell deformation have to be considered as part of the vehicle design process at the concept stage. The Hybrid Ill dummy with instrumented lower legs is the tool selected for measuring the lower leg injury criteria and it is essential to have a full understanding of the lower leg interaction, with the deforming footwell, control pedals and dashboard, in order to determine how these affect leg kinematics and loading mechanisms. The LLIMP (Lower Leg Injury and Methods of Prevention) Vehicle Design project is a collaborative research project undertaken by the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) and sponsored by Rover Group, Ford Motor Company and Jaguar Cars. Its aim is to gain an understanding of the effect which car design has on lower leg kinematics and loading mechanisms. As part of this project a finite element lower leg model has been developed and fully correlated to crash and sled tests. The effect of over 30 different parameters which affect lower leg kinematics and loads have been studied, and their effect on lower leg loading will be evaluated later in the project using the finite element lower leg model. These parameters take account of vehicle structure, occupant kinematics and footwell geometry. The results of the parametric study have been collated to produce a set of lower leg design guidelines, to assist in vehicle structure and restraint system design and as part of the vehicle development cycle. The paper presents the formulation of the parameters, and how different parameters affect lower leg kinematics and injury criteria. For the covering abstract see IRRD E102514.
- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
National Highway Safety Advisory Committee
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- PAYNE, A
- LAWSON, A R
- HALL, A R
- Green, J
- THOMAS, A V
- MIDOUN, D
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Conference:
- 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles
- Location: Windsor Ontario, Canada
- Date: 1998-5-31 to 1998-6-4
- Publication Date: 1998-10
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: References;
- Pagination: p. 283-91
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Serial:
- Volume: 1
- Issue Number: DOTHS808759
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Anthropometry; Crash tests; Design; Dummies; Dynamics; Finite element method; Location; Shape; Size; Vehicle occupants
- ITRD Terms: 1618: Anthropometric dummy; 9011: Design (overall design); 9014: Dimension; 5473: Dynamics; 6490: Finite element method; 1648: Impact test (crash); 9061: Location; 9073: Shape; 1715: Vehicle occupant
- Subject Areas: Design; Passenger Transportation; Research;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00779235
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
- Files: ITRD, USDOT
- Created Date: Dec 7 1999 12:00AM