Laboratory of
Biomechanical
Orthopedics
Design of a biofidelic crash test dummy abdomen
using FE modelling
Project Objectives
Context
• Improve the finite element model of the next generation of frontal crash
tests dummies, THOR.
• Develop and validate the FEM of THOR abdomen prototype of
IFSTTAR/TME.
• Frontal crash is the first cause of road fatalities in Europe.
• Wounds to the abdomen represent the third cause of critical to fatal
injuries in frontal collisions.
• However, abdomen injury risk to adult car occupant is not assessed in
UNECE Frontal Impact regulation and Euro NCAP.
The project ultimate goal is to define an injury criteria for the abdomen of
THOR that isn’t existing in the current dummy Hybrid III.
Two major cause of abdomen injuries in frontal crashes were identified :
→ Impact with the steering wheel (unrestrained drivers)
→ Penetration of the lap belt (restrained occupants)
Improvements & Results on THOR FEM
Main Improvements :
• Mesh refinements
• New pelvis material properties
• New stress-strain curves for the lower
abdomen front foam
• Hourglass parameters were optimized
Lower Abdomen
Rear Foam
Lower Abdomen
Front Foam Coat
Pelvis
Steering wheel impact on
THOR-NT (tests performed at IFSTTAR)
Seatbelt retraction test on THOR-NT
(tests performed at IFSTTAR)
These tests were replicated in FEM under LS-DYNA.
Abdomen Response for rigid bar impact at 6.1m/s :
• In addition, a parametric study on the height of impact was realised.
Improvements & Results on THOR FE-prototype
Main Improvements :
• THOR FEM improvements
• Insertion of two Abdominal Pressure Twin Sensors FEM (provided by
IFSTTAR) in the lower abdomen front foam
Abdominal Pressure Twin Sensors
Lower Abdomen Front Foam
Lower Abdomen Front Foam Coat
Steering wheel impact simulations with impactor
height increased by 10 mm and 20 mm
Abdomen Response for Seatbelt loading:
Sagittal cut of THOR FE-prototype pelvis and abdomen assembly
Abdomen Response for rigid bar Impact at 3m/s :
Author
Ammann Marco
Supervisor
Prof. Dominique Pioletti
Supervisor at Toyota
Motor Europe
Sabine Compigne