Human Crashworthiness and Crash Load Limits

Abstract : The assessment of the hazard to a crewmember in a potential aircraft crash requires information about human tolerance to mechanical forces, a method for the identification and evaluation of the contributing factors to potential injury in a crash and a means of estimating the environmental forces on an occupant and the resultant responses of the occupant. Results of research in the US Air Force in these three areas are discussed. Specifically, 1) the rationale for and formulation of a dynamic response six degree-of-freedom whole body impact tolerance specification, 2) a detailed head-spine structural mechanics and a vehicle occupant gross motion rigid body dynamics model and their areas of applicability in crash analysis, and 3) features of the newly developed US Air Force Advanced Dynamic Anthropomorphic Manikin (ADAM) are discussed.