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Publication Details

Title	The use of simulation to assess human tolerance to injury
Authors	Gibson TJ, Benetatos E, Anderson RWG, Brown J, Duflou J, Waite PM, Gorrie C
Year	2000
Type	Conference Paper
Abstract	It is possible to use simulation to produce data in situations where direct experiment is impossible. Only limited human injury tolerance is data available, particularly for children. The increasing sophistication of vehicle crash safety requirements, which are placing more complex demands on designers, have also demanded greater knowledge of human response to impact. This paper outlines the methods used by researchers historically to gather this data and discusses the limitations. The use of mathematical simulation to investigate child head injury tolerance is examined in detail. This paper reports on an approach based on the use of a detailed mathematical model representing the human body as a linked lumped mass system, reflecting the anthropometry and stiffness of the human subject. This model is placed in the environment of an actual crash, which is derived from a detailed accident investigation. The simulation allows the kinematics of the crash to be verified and supplies information about the causation of the injuries suffered by the subject. The loading to the subject, which led to the injuries, is then derived from a series of physical dynamic tests based on the damage to the vehicle and the kinematics predicted by the simulation. A case study is presented in illustration of the methodology and the limitations are discussed.
Conference Name	Simtech 2000
Conference Location	Sydney, Australia
Conference Date	28 February - 2 March 2000
Page Count	4
Notes	available from CASR library on request

Reference

Gibson TJ, Benetatos E, Anderson RWG, Brown J, Duflou J, Waite PM, Gorrie C (2000). The use of simulation to assess human tolerance to injury. Simtech 2000, Sydney, Australia, 28 February - 2 March 2000.