Comparison of HIC Values during Train-Car Collisions

Abstract

Accident statistics show that a collision of a train with a car has a significant share of the number of traffic accidents. It also ranks among the most tragic. Three crash tests were made simulating the side impact of a railway vehicle with a car on a level crossing to monitor the biomechanics of possible injury. This study pays particular attention to head injuries. Head acceleration in all three axes was captured on a mannequin during an impact with Skoda Superb and Skoda Favorit vehicles. The most common head injury criterion (HIC) was selected as a quantitative indicator for comparison. It transpired that the contact of the head with an element of the car interior, whether or not the out-of-position occurs during the impact, plays an important role in the severity of head injuries.