Development of Implementable Omni-Directional Chest, Spine and Head Injury Criteria for Human Body Models

Purpose and goal

The objective of the project was to propose, evaluate and establish injury criteria with associated thresholds for human body models. The focus was on chest, lumbar spine and head. More specifically, the objective was to provide the industrial parties with a tool that enables the development of advanced protection systems for the protection of occupants in all crash directions. Through the refinement of the common tool the SAFER THUMS model together with the proposed injury criteria and thresholds, the automotive industry has received a unique and competitive tool

Expected results and effects

The result of the project is 3 proposed injury criteria with injury assessment reference values and a refined SAFER THUMS model to be used for the development of protection systems. The development of these injury criteria enables assessment of occupant injury risk at a level that is not possible with today´s mechanical crash test dummies. This also enables the development of advanced protection systems that would not have been possible without these new tools and criteria.

Planned approach and implementation

The project was a collaboration between Chalmers University of Technology, Volvo cars and Autoliv Research. The project and was divided into four work packages, development of an omnidirectional chest injury criterion, development of a lumbar region injury criterion, evaluation of a main injury criterion to be used with human models and reconstructions. During the project, 21 project meetings and 2 steering group meetings have taken place. In addition, several work package meetings have also taken place.