Finite element simulation of lower limb injuries to the driver in minibus frontal collisions.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to explore the biomechanical mechanism of lower limb injuries to the driver by establishing a finite element (FE) simulation model of collisions.


METHODS
First a minibus FE model was integrated with a seat belt system. Then it was used to rebuild two collisions together with the total human model for safety (THUMS) provided by Toyota Motor Corporation: a rear-end collision between a minibus and a truck and a head-on collision of a minibus to a rigid wall. The impact velocities of both collisions were set at 56 km/h. The vehicle dynamic response, vehicle deceleration, and dashboard intrusion in the two collisions were compared.


RESULTS
In the minibus rear-end truck collision, the peak values of the von Mises equivalent stress at the tibia and the femur were 133 MPa and 126 MPa respectively; while in the minibus head-on rigid wall collision, the data were 139 MPa and 99 MPa. Compared with the minibus head-on rigid wall collision, the vehicle deceleration was smaller and the dashboard intrusion was larger in the minibus rear-end truck collision.


CONCLUSIONS
The results illustrate that a longer dashboard incursion distance corresponds to a higher von Mises equivalent stress at the femur. The simulation results are consistent with the driver's autopsy report on lower limbs injuries. These findings verify that FE simulation method is reliable and useful to analyze the mechanisms of lower limb injuries to the driver in minibus frontal collisions.
College of Pharmaceutical and Biological Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China.
Liang-Liang
LL
Shi
Chen
C
Lei
Kui
K
Li
Shuo-Zhen
SZ
Fu
Zheng-Wei
ZW
Wu
Zhi-Yong
ZY
Yin
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries*