A Finite Element Human Body Model of Chinese Midsize Male for Pedestrian Safety Analysis

The most commonly used numerical human body models and anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) in vehicle safety analysis are in the anthropometry of Western European or North American. However, the anthropometric differences between European/American and Chinese population are remarkable and have significant influences on pedestrian kinematics and injury response in vehicle crashes. Therefore, the current study aims to develop and validate a finite element (FE) human body model representing the anthropometry of Chinese 50th% adult male for pedestrian safety analysis and development of Chinese ATDs. Firstly, a human body pedestrian model, named as C-HBM (Chinese Human Body Model), was developed based on the medical image data of a volunteer selected according to both anthropometry and anatomy characteristics of 50th% Chinese adult male. Then, the biofidelity of the C-HBM pedestrian model was validated against cadaver impact test data reported in the literature at the segment and full-body level. Finally, the validated C-HBM pedestrian model was employed to predict Chinese pedestrian injuries in real world vehicle crashes. The results indicate that the C-HBM pedestrian model has a good capability in predicting human body mechanical response in cadaver tests and Chinese pedestrian leg and thorax injuries in real world vehicle crashes. Kinematic analysis shows that the C-HBM pedestrian model has less sliding on the hood surface, shorter movement in the horizontal direction, and higher pelvis displacement in the vertical direction than cadavers and the pedestrian model in the anthropometry of westerner due to anthropometric differences in the lower limbs. This implies that anthropometric differences between different ethnic groups should be considered in applications of numerical human body models and ATDs. The currently developed C-HBM pedestrian model provides a basic tool for vehicle safety design and evaluation in China market, and for development of Chinese ATDs.