Crash simulations of wheelchair-occupant systems in transport.
A nonlinear multirigid body dynamic computer model has been developed to simulate the dynamic responses of a wheelchair-occupant system in a vehicle during a crash. The occupant, restrained by safety belts, is seated in a wheelchair that is, in turn, tied down in a vehicle. Validated extensively by crash sled tests at three laboratories, this model has been used to predict the responses of wheelchair-occupant systems in various crash environments. To evaluate the crashworthiness of different wheelchair tie-downs, the sensitivity of several design parameters, such as tiedown stiffness, wheel stiffness, and tiedown positions, has been studied using this model, and optimal values of these parameters for the wheelchair-occupant system have been obtained. Moreover, the model has been used to study the sensitivity of crash sled test pulse corridors in an effort to develop a sled test standard. It has been found that an existing ISO corridor allows large variation and should be "tightened." The model was implemented using a version of the multibody dynamic simulator, the Articulated Total Body program.
Kang
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Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22903, USA. weize.kang@ae.ge.com
Pilkey
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D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D011187:Posture; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014910:Wheelchairs