Human body modelling for traffic accident analysis

A traffic accident is a complex phenomenon with vehicles and human beings involved. During a collision, the vehicle occupant is exposed to substantial loads, which can cause the occupant injuries that depend on the level of passive safety, as well as on the occupant's individual characteristics. Correct estimation of injury severity demands a validated human body model and known impact conditions. A human body modelling procedure for the purpose of accident analysis is introduced. The occupant body has been modelled as a multibody system with rigid body segments connected. Geometrical and inertial properties of individual body segments were estimated using computed tomography. Frontal impact conditions were simulated on a sled test facility, while the human body dynamic response was measured. Comparison of experimental data and computer simulation revealed an influence of joint resistive properties on the occupant motion in collisions. The difference between measured and simulated response was minimised using optimisation method. Individualised human body modelling procedure enabled better prediction of the occupant motion during vehicle collision and thus more precise estimation of possible injuries in real-life traffic accidents.     

An idealized model of interaction between fronds of the large seaweed Durvillaea antarctica

The effect of interactions between individual fronds in a bed of the large intertidal seaweed Durvillaea antarctica, when forced by breaking waves, is studied using a computational model. The model simulates the response of a seaweed bed using a sequence of connected oscillators which are excited by a propagating forcing function representing a breaking ocean wave. Two new facets of the interplay between seaweeds and hydrodynamics are considered: (i) wave forcing due to breaking waves is often not sinusoidal in the rocky intertidal zone and (ii) a frond interaction term is included. The addition of frond interaction reduces the maximum loading on individuals within the bed by around 30% using estimated biomechanical parameters. The rate of change of the loading on the holdfast (equivalent to the “jerk”) is affected in a similar or greater fashion.     

基于通用设计的老年人辅助出行产品开发研究

针对老年人下肢行动功能衰退的问题,提出通用设计理念与SAEA模块化功能设计方法的研究思路,及辅助型轮椅的创新设计成果。利用STS生物力学实验法分析老年人使用轮椅过程中的问题,采用调研法分析下肢行动不便的老年人对辅助出行产品的需求重点,作为辅助型轮椅开发研究的切入点;通过SAEA模块化设计矩阵形式逐级解决辅助出行产品开发对用户需求及服务功能的方案,以通用设计思维模式对SAEA模块化设计矩阵分析成果进行方案优化;用计算机辅助设计看板模型整合最终方案,完成多功能辅助型轮椅设计成果。结论表明以通用设计理念对老年人辅助型轮椅开发进行STS实验和SAEA模块化研究所获得数据成果,可以为老年人辅助出行产品的研发提供技术参考及理论依据。