Head impact location, angle and velocity during side impact: A study based on virtual testing

One of the current activities of EEVC Working Group 13 (WG-13) "Side Impact Test Procedures" is to develop a test procedure for Free Motion Head impact tests supplementary to the full-scale mobile deformable barrier (MDB) test specified in ECE Regulation 95. Amongst the factors needed for development of the test procedure, is the determination of "worst case" test conditions for specifying contact point and approach angle. The goal of this research project was to give an objective prediction of head impact location, related head impact angle and impact speed for small, average and large sized belted front occupants in realistic seating positions in a wide range of side impact crash scenarios. Head contact at A-pillar, B-pillar and Roof-rail in two vehicle types (light / heavy) and for different interior dimensions were studied. The prediction of head impact location, velocity and angle was realized by means of virtual testing using MADYMO. Simple but efficient multi-body vehicle models were used in combination with human body models. In this study head impact horizontal and vertical angles were found between 50 deg and 115 deg and between -35 deg and -5 deg respectively. The corresponding head impact velocities were between 3 and 9 m/s, with an average value of 6.7 m/s.