Far-side occupant responses based on current US side-impact protocol using finite element human body models

Abstract

Most of the applied vehicle side-impact occupant protection research to date has concentrated on near-side occupants. Currently, no regulation exists in North America for the far-side occupant protection. Real-world crash data has shown that occupants seated on the non-struck side, defined as 'far-side' occupants, are still subjected to a risk of injuries. The objective of this study is to investigate body responses for the far-side occupant using current US side impact protocols. Current side impact protocol in the USA is designed to meet side Moving Deformable Barrier (MDB) and fixed oblique pole impact. Two seating cases are addressed; the first case consisted of a far-side occupant in the first row (single occupant) to evaluate the interaction of the occupant to the structure. The second case, a near-side occupant, was added to the far-side occupant (two occupants in a row) to study the interaction of the occupant-to-occupant. A finite element human body model (50th male) was used as a far-side and near-side occupant. Simulation results indicated that the LINCAP barrier could potentially produce the significant head rotational acceleration and thoracic rib deflection if the far-side occupant was included in the existing near-side crash protocols.