Real life side impact evaluations and model development for virtual prediction of restraint systems

Purpose and goal

Side impacts are mainly related to intersections and integrating passive restraint performance with active safety features is needed to improve occupant protection. Especially for the elderly occupants. Although the response of THUMS were similar to the PMHS response, there is still a need to further understand how to predict injuries such as rib fractures, brain injuries and pelvis fractures, which need to be addressed to further reduce MAIS2+ injuries sustained in side impacts. With the generick side impact model benefits from future restraints can be evaluated.

Expected results and effects

With the higher implementation of active safety an integrated approach will be needed to further reduce injuries sustained in side impacts. Focus should be on senior safety and intersection crashes. The back to back comparison of WorldSID and THUMS has provided insights in possibilities and limitations for using these tools for side impact evaluation. As a complement to physical tests, evaluations using human body modelling is needed to ensure good occupant protection in a wider range of crashes.

Planned approach and implementation

Based on the real life data the generic model was created and validated. The field data was also the basis for the crash test and simulation studies carried out within the project. This project has relied on CAE which has been more challengeing than anticipated. Limited resources resulted in shifting activities between project partners and to delays of the project.