Phenomenological continuous contact–impact modelling for multibody simulations of pedestrian–vehicle contact interactions based on experimental data

Abstract

Multibody modelling of pedestrian collisions requires the definition of contactimpact between the pedestrian and the vehicle. An examination of relevant impact test data reveals large rate-dependent components of the reaction force, permanent indentation, and concomitant energy loss. Contact-impact models previously used in simulations of pedestrian impacts typically have not adequately modelled one, two or all three of these phenomena. This paper presents a phenomenological contact-impact model based on the Hunt-Crossley model of impact, which includes rate-dependent damping, and is extended to include permanent indentation. The proposed model suitably characterises impact test data in a form that can also be implemented in the multibody simulation code MADYMO (Tass-Safe, Netherlands). The proposed contact-impact model was used to characterise the impact between a legform and the bumper of a vehicle, based on two impact tests conducted at different impact speeds. A single contact-impact definition in MADYMO closely reproduced the dynamics of both tests. The proposed model may be suitable in a wide range of impact conditions where the impact is modelled using multibody techniques and it is practicable to conduct impact tests as part of the modelling process.

Compliant contact force models in multibody dynamics: Evolution of the Hertz contact theory

“…Besides the Hunt and Crossley approach is valid for direct central and frictionless contact, it has been used by many researchers because of its simplicity and straightforward to implement [9,[128][129][130]. For instance, Guess et al [131] employed the Hunt and Crossley formulation to successfully model the interaction between tibia, femur and menisci in a global three-dimensional multibody knee model.…”

A comparative study of the viscoelastic constitutive models for frictionless contact interfaces in solids

“…It must be pointed out that the contact force models analyzed in this study do only hold if viscoelasticity is not the only dissipative process during the contact event. For the cases where friction, plastic deformation, brittle failure, fracture, adhesion, among other effects, have to be considered, there are more appropriate models to simulate the bodies in contact [136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146].…”

A nonlinear visco-elastoplastic impact model and the coefficient of restitution

“…Also, the additional nonlinearity introduced by the model unnecessarily complicates the solution method. Despite these difficulties, the Hunt-Crossley model gained popularity in recent years and has been used in a number of studies [14,15].…”