Enhancement of Vehicle Crash / Occupant Safety: Mathematical Modelling

In this book a novel 6-DOF vehicle dynamics/crash mathematical model and a lumped-mass occupant model are developed. The first model is used to show the effect of vehicle dynamic control systems (VDCS) on vehicle collision mitigation. The model allows studying the vehicle dynamics along with the vehicle crash structural dynamics. The anti-lock braking system (ABS), the active and semi-active suspension control systems (ASC and SASC) are developed and co-simulated with the model. The front-end structure is modelled as non-linear springs. The second model aims to predict the effect of the vehicle dynamics control system on the kinematics of the occupant. The Lagrange equations are used to solve that model owing to the complexity of the obtained equations of motion. The mathematical models and their associated equations of motion are developed and solved numerically to carry out this analysis. Validation of the vehicle crash structure and the occupant models are achieved to ensure that the models are reliable.