Pregnant occupant model including a fetus for vehicle safety investigations

B. Serpil Acar, M. Moustafa, Volkan Esat, Memis Acar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Computational occupant modelling has an effective role to play in investigating road safety. Realistic representation of occupants is very important to make investigations in virtual environment. Pregnant occupant modelling can help investigating safety for unborn occupants (fetuses) however, existing pregnant occupant models are not very realistic. Most do not anthropometrically represent pregnant women and do not include a fetus model. 'Expecting', a computational pregnant occupant model, developed with a view to simulate the dynamic response to crash impacts is briefly explained in this paper. The model is validated through rigid bar impacts and belt loading tests and used to simulate a wide range of impacts. 'Expecting', possess the anthropometric properties of a 5th percentile female at around the 38th week of pregnancy. The model is complete with a finite element uterus and a realistic multibody fetus which is a novel feature in models of this kind. In this paper, the effect of further developments to 'Expecting', by incorporating a finite element fetus head model is investigated. Further detailed anatomic geometry is used to generate deformable fetus head model. The model is used to simulate a range of frontal impacts with seatbelt and airbag, as well as no restraint cases. The strains developed in the uteroplacental interface are used as the main criteria for fetus safety. The effect of incorporating a finite element fetus head in the pregnant occupant model is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationApplied Mechanics; Automotive Systems; Biomedical Biotechnology Engineering; Computational Mechanics; Design; Digital Manufacturing; Education; Marine and Aerospace Applications
PublisherWeb Portal ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791845837
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes
EventASME 2014 12th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, ESDA 2014 - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 25 Jul 201427 Jul 2014

Publication series

NameASME 2014 12th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, ESDA 2014
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceASME 2014 12th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, ESDA 2014
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period25/07/1427/07/14

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