Numerical reconstruction of a minivan–pedestrian collision using a Chinese pedestrians model for injury analysis

Purpose: The objective of this study was to numerically reconstruct a collision between a minivan and a pedestrian, and to reproduce the injury conditions of the pedestrian’s head, chest, and lower extremities. This research aimed to provide a reference for the numerical reconstruction studies of traffic collisions based on human body models.

Methods: The walking posture of the Chinese 50th percentile male pedestrian model AC-HUMs (Advanced China Human body Models) was transformed, after which an analysis model was established for simulation based on the simplified model of the minivan vehicle and the collision information. Subsequently, the injury conditions of the model’s lower extremities, chest and head were extracted, and compared with the information of the injured person.

Results: The findings reveal that the pedestrian model exhibits tibia-fibula fractures in the lower limbs, six rib fractures in the chest and a head injury classified as AIS5 (Abbreviated Injury Scale), suggesting a potential risk of concussion. While the injuries to the lower limbs and chest are predicted with considerable accuracy, the head injuries in the model are more severe.

Conclusions: In the reconstruction of a minivan–pedestrian collision using the AC-HUMs model, AC-HUMs showed good injury prediction capabilities for the pedestrian’s lower limbs and chest, and while the head injury prediction based on intracranial pressure was more severe, that, based on brain strain, was consistent with the actual situation, reflecting the model’s satisfactory performance. This research provides valuable insights for studying injury patterns among Chinese pedestrians through numerical reconstruction.