MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF PEDESTRIAN LOWER LEG IMPACTS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1989 INTERNATIONAL IRCOBI CONFERENCE ON THE BIOMECHANICS OF IMPACTS, HELD IN STOCKHOLM, 13-15 SEPTEMBER 1989

In this paper the impact loading and response of the pedestrian lower leg is examined using two models for the pedestrian. These are a two segment model with a frictionless pivot at the knee and a three segment model which has a second pivot at the hips. The models are used to examine the influence of bumper height on the kinematics of the lower leg and on the impulsive forces at both the impact point and at the knee joint. A model for the dynamic response of the lower leg and its angular rotation is included. Comparison with the experimental cadaver responses reported by Cesari shows that the two segment model gives a high degree of correlation with the experimental results for lower leg rotation angle and peak impact force, while the three segment model does not. The tibia fracture/non-fracture prediction accuracy of both models is similar.(A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 826430.