Abstract
Key Words
biomechanics, multibody dynamics, computer simulation, parameter identification
Abstract
For the purpose of traffic accident analysis a procedure for estimation of some human body characteristics is introduced. The vehicle occupant is modeled as a multibody dynamical system with spherical and revolute joints connecting the body segments, which are regarded as rigid bodies. The joint stiffness and damping characteristics exert great influence upon occupant body response at an accident. Therefore their correct estimation is essential for determining the possible injuries arising from the accident. The joint characteristics are defined as design variables in a nonlinear mathematical programming problem. Using suitable optimization methods, the difference between the occupant model response and the occupant experimental response can be minimized over the design variable definition range, thus estimating the joint characteristics. The occupant kinematics data is measured on a sled test device for low-velocity impact testing, while the inertia properties of the occupant body segments are estimated using medical imaging techniques.