MDO-WAD · Multi-disciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) of adaptive vehicle safety systems for Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD)
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2007-04-01 → 2009-03-31
- EU contribution
- €80,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- IRG
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - MDO-WAD (Multi-disciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) of adaptive vehicle safety systems for Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD))
These results from this report suggest that vehicle design plays an important role in protecting the occupant from whiplash injury and highlights the importance of examining the effect of all key design features on the different phases of the whiplash motion. Different design factors may have different levels of influence on the phases of the whiplash motion. Second, the results suggest that, in designing and rating vehicles for whiplash protection, it is important to look at the vehicle as a system and not just a single design variable such as seat stiffness or head restraint geometry. It is likely that, at different crash magnitudes, the influence of vehicle design parameters would change significantly. Finally, the results of this study also suggest that the multiple phases of whiplash make vehicle design quite challenging. The relationship between design features and proposed injury measures is shown to be very complex. The results also highlight the influence of structural force-deflection characteristics in mitigating whiplash. The significant role that vehicle stiffness plays, particularly in the retraction phase, is something that should be considered by testing agencies that will be rating vehicle performance. This research can be considered as a unique project, as the research approach uses multidisciplinary design optimisation techniques to design safer vehicles. The results from this report provide useful tools/methods to improve vehicle safety.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Whiplash Associated Disorders are the most frequent and aggravating traffic-related safety problems, resulting in serious implications for society. During the last decade, significant progress has been made in improving occupant safety through the use of safety and the construction of the car body itself. Already, the computational occupant models are compared with test dummies, proving a basis for validation. However, a formal design methodology for complex safety systems in which the synergistic effects of coupling between various interacting phenomena, such as the vehicle dynamics, structural analysis and occupant/biomechanics are explored and exploited at every stage of the design process does not exist. Design optimisation for vehicle safety systems has traditionally been a process based on creativity, past experience and knowledge of the designer.The design and rating of vehicles regarding whiplash injury protection is an extremely challenging task, because multiple design factors are likely to affect the whiplash motion. However, no studies have quantified the varying effects of primary vehicle design factors across all WAD phases. Moreover, the optimisation of different injury criteria for different phases of WAD via rigorous and versatile optimisation methods has not been considered.The current study proposes to develop a design methodology incorporating the contribution of vehicle design factors (such as vehicle structural characteristics, seat geometry and material, etc.) to all four phases (retraction, extension, rebound and protraction) of whiplash, and to optimise vehicle safety/minimize injury potential. Also, there is much scope for safety system design to adapt" to females and children, because statistically they incur twice the risk of whiplash injury, as male car occupants. The adaptability of safety system to occupant size/gender is one of the major project undertakings proposed here."
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- FORD OTOMOTIV SANAYI A.S. · GOLCUKCoordinatorCity levelTürkiye
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union