Computational Preg Occ Model EXPECTING for crash simulations Accepted version.pdf (529.01 kB)
Computational pregnant occupant model, 'Expecting', for crash simulations
journal contribution
posted on 2014-06-20, 13:34 authored by Serpil Acar, David W. van LopikA computational model of the pregnant occupant, which is capable of simulating the
dynamic response to acceleration impacts, is introduced. The occupant model represents a 5th
percentile female at around the 38th week of pregnancy. A finite element uterus and multi-body
fetus is integrated into an existing female model to incorporate pregnant female anthropometry.
The complete model, ‘Expecting’, is used to simulate a range of frontal impacts of increasing
severity from 15 km/h to 45 km/h. Three levels of occupant restraint, completely unrestrained,
three-point seat belt, and three-point seat belt with an airbag, are investigated. The strains
developed in the uterus because of loading from the seat belt and steering-wheel unit are
presented, together with an analysis of stress distribution due to inertial loading of the fetus on
the uterus.
The unrestrained cases are shown to be the most dangerous to the fetus, owing to the large
interaction with the vehicle steering wheel at the level of the placenta. The use of a three-point
seat belt together with a driver airbag appears to offer the greatest protection to the fetus.
History
School
- Design
Published in
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART D-JOURNAL OF AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERINGVolume
223Issue
D7Pages
891 - 902 (12)Citation
ACAR, B.S. and VAN LOPIK, D., 2009. Computational pregnant occupant model, 'Expecting', for crash simulations. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 223 (7), pp. 891 - 902.Publisher
Sage / © IMechEVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2009Notes
This article was published in the Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 223 (7), pp. 891 - 902 [Sage / © IMechE] and the definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/09544070JAUTO1072ISSN
0954-4070Publisher version
Language
- en