Walter Dr Ing Schmid

Mathematical Movement and Load Simulation for Persons Involved in an Automobile Accident

This report deals with the development and use of the Daimler–Benz Isohuman Simulation Model for the mathematical simulation of dummy behaviour in an impact environment. Designated ISM, this computer program package is capable of handling both automobile occupant and pedestrian kinematics of various collision types. Daimler–Benz safety engineers use the ISM to evaluate new safety designs such as seat belts with emergency tensioning retractors or airbags, before performing actual laboratory tests to determine systematically which variation is more sensible for further investigation. Other examples of applications in recent years include studies of various vehicle deceleration profiles as well as the design of interior and exterior contact surfacer. The ISM code uses the fundamental theoretical algorithm of Professor Wittenburg. The dummy is represented by 11 rigid body elements. Important properties of the dummy include its mass distribution and the joint characteristics. Realistic and accurate simulations are assured by the fact that a considerable number of functional and sophisticated algorithms were developed to involve the different interactions of dummy–to–belt or dummy–to–vehicle. In particular, considerable work is being done to introduce a more precise and realistic dummy and vehicle geometry.