Msc Thesis: Positioning and Personalization of Finite Element Human Body Models

MSc Thesis: Positioning and Personalization of Finite Element Human Body Models

Background

In the automotive industry, explicit finite element (FE) simulations are vital for virtual crash testing of new vehicles. In order to assess the performance not only of the vehicle structure but also of occupant restraint systems in crash simulations, Human Body Models (HBMs), Figure 1, are used. In a research project at Chalmers, an HBM representing an average female is being developed for assessment of seat performance in rear-end impacts, known to cause so called whiplash injuries. This model will be released under and Open Source license, a new paradigm within the research community developing HBM. In parallel with the Chalmers project a larger EU funded project called PIPER (http://www.piper-project.eu/) are developing Open Source software that are to be used for the positioning and personalization of HBMs. In this thesis, the tools developed in the PIPER project will be used with existing HBMs and the average female model that Chalmers is developing, to study how spinal curvature influences injury risk in rear-end impacts.

Figure 1. Left: The THUMS v3 HBM in simulated frontal impact. Right: The cervical spine of the average female model developed at Chalmers.

Objective and Method

In this thesis, the student(s) should work with the following tasks.

1.  Evaluate the positioning software developed by the PIPER project.

2.  Develop a method for positioning the average female model with the PIPER tools.

3.  Study the sensitivity of the average female HBM response to positioning and personalization algorithms.

Learning outcomes:

Students will learn and develop skills in performing explicit FE simulations in the software LS-DYNA. Furthermore, students will gain an understanding of impact biomechanics and restraint design.

Supervisor

Jonas Östh, PhD, Vehicle Safety Division, Department of Applied Mechanics

Examiner

Professor Karin Brolin, Vehicle Safety Division, Department of Applied Mechanics

Miscellaneous

This thesis is suitable for one or two students with an interest of working with CAE in the automotive industry. A prerequisite is at least a basic course in the finite element method and good knowledge of mechanics.

The thesis should preferably be performed during the spring of 2016.

Contact

Jonas Östh, , T: +46 31772 15 36