Enhancing Female and Male SAFER HBM Torso Injury Prediction (Injury-HBM Step 5)

Research Project, 2023 – 2027

Purpose and goal: The purpose of the project is to ensure that the SAFER Human Body Model continues to be a leading, robust and biofidelic tool for injury risk prediction for women and men of different sizes, in crashes in present and future vehicles. Specific goals include improvement of chest injury prediction, by development of new capability for sternum and cartilage fracture risk prediction and improvement of rib fracture risk prediction, as well as development of new capability for detailed lap belt interaction and pelvis fracture risk prediction. Expected results and effects: New and further developed ability for injury prediction and belt interaction will ensure that SAFER HBM continues to be an important tool for the development of advanced occupant protection systems benefiting women and men of varying sizes and in different sitting postures. The SAFER HBM is planned to be be globally available, meaning that the project results have the potential to contribute to improved safety for many future cars, especially as consumer information organizations introduces virtual crash safety testing using human models of different sizes. Approach and implementation: The project is carried out in collaboration between academy and industry, with two PhD students and a post-doc at the academy as part of the project. New research results in biomechanics will be compiled and used for the development of the new body parts and injury prediction models. Scientific articles on the new advances in human modeling will be published. Newly developed model functionality for injury prediction will be applied and evaluated by the industrial partners to ensure usability and early industrial application.