EVU XXVI 2017 – 14 Vulnerable road users. Numerical and Experimental Reconstruction of Cyclist Accidents in Urban Areas


Vulnerable road users. Numerical and Experimental
Reconstruction of Cyclist Accidents in Urban Areas
Dr. Benedetta Arosio1*, Prof. Dr. Ing. Marco Anghileri1
1La.S.T. Laboratory, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
*Corresponding author; e-mail: benedetta.arosio@mail.polimi.it

Abstract

Most cycling accidents occur in urban areas and involve car collisions. In an attempt to define a Finite
Element (FE) model of cyclist and bike that can correctly replicate the accident scenario, a numerical
experimental analysis was conducted. The numerical reconstruction is validated by means of results
comparison and correlation with experimental tests. A FE bike model was developed and verified. The
available Hybrid III FE model was modified with respect to its posture to combine it with the bike model
previously defined. The whole bike and dummy model was analysed in actual accident scenarios. The
scenarios analysed differ in bike-car angle, velocity, car vehicle model. The focus was on cyclist injuries:
typology and severity.

The results of the research intended to define injury threshold levels and the
differences in injuries with and without protective garments, in addition to the definition of a reliable
bike-dummy numerical model. A series of car-bike impacts was simulated using the bike FE model and
combined with the Hybrid III FE model. The numerical simulations were performed in LS-DYNA FE
solver, which gave the possibility to reproduce crash impact scenarios. The bike FE model was created in
Hypermesh and imported in LS-DYNA, where analyses were conducted to validate the model. In the
simulations, impact velocity, bike-car angle and vehicle model were varied. The performance of the
model was assessed comparing the experimental test performed at La.S.T. (Laboratory of Transport
Safety) at Politecnico di Milano under comparable conditions. The Hybrid III Anthropomorphic Test
Device was instrumented as needed (head accelerometers, neck load cells, chest accelerometers, chest
deflection transducers, femur force transducers). It was tied to a city bike model, selected on the basis of
the urban accident database. The research is funded by ASAIS EVU Italia. Keywords: Vulnerable road
users, Cyclist accident, Head Injury, Brain Injury, Hybrid III, LS-DYNA.

La lettura di questo articolo è riservata ai soli Soci EVU Italia

 


AutoreDr. Benedetta Arosio1*, Prof. Dr. Ing. Marco Anghileri1 1La.S.T. Laboratory, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
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